Biotechnology

A trend in food labeling is to make claims related to agricultural management, and this is occurring with dairy labels. A survey study was conducted to compare retail milk for quality (antibiotics and bacterial counts), nutritional value (fat, protein, and solids-not-fat), and hormonal composition (somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1], estradiol, and progesterone) as affected by three label claims related to dairy-cow management: conventional, recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST)- free (processor-certified not from cows supplemented with rbST), or organic (follows US Department of Agriculture organic practices). [Excerpted from article]

This report summarizes results from Wave 1 of the Humane Research Council's "Animal Tracker" survey of U.S. adults regarding their attitudes and behavior toward animals. This inaugural survey of 16 core questions shows strong support for the protection of all animals. The strength of that support varies by situation and species, however, and actual behavior does not always reflect the favorable attitudes identified.

The United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency surveyed people about cloned animals and the prospect of products originating from these animals entering the food chain. The key concerns included whether or not food from clones would be safe to eat, animal welfare standards, the lack of tangible consumer benefits, and lack of trust in key players involved.

Hosted by the Center for Genetics and Society, this compilation presents a summary of public opinion about pet and animal cloning from various sources including Gallup, Time/CNN, FOX News, etc. Overall, a majority of the U.S. public opposes the cloning of companion animals.

This report from the American Anti-Vivisection Society is based on interviews with 1,008 adults, with results showing that the majority of Americans are opposed to the cloning of companion animals and the sale of genetically engineered animals as pets.

According to Gallup's 2008 Values and Belief's Survey, there were no significant changes in U.S. public opinion from last year's survey for the following animal issues: medical testing on animals; cloning animals; and fur clothing. However, when compared with 2001 data, fewer people today think medical testing on animals and wearing animal fur are "morally acceptable."

This article presents a discussion of public sentiment toward the concept in vitro meat production, following a symposium on the topic in Norway. The article also discusses PETA's prize campaign challenging scientists to develop a commercially viable in vitro meat product by 2012.

This study by a Canadian member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees found that more than half of the Asian primate research studies conducted in 2001 involved non-invasive behavioral or ecological research. The articles also provides a brief description of animal experimentation and the ethical arguments against it

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recently announced a $1 million prize to the "first person to come up with a method to produce commercially viable quantities of in vitro meat at competitive prices by 2012." However, the prize has come under fire from some for being a publicity stunt and only loosely based on science.