Challenges in Evaluating Gene-Modified Animals and Products As Food. A. S. Ahl, US Department of Agriculture, TN, Tuskegee University
Development in gene-modification for animals has lagged behind that for plants, but a number of gene-modified animals are ready for commercial production. There is considerable pressure on regulatory agencies to review and approve a range of animals and animal products for human use. The animals/products specifically for food are challenging in the difficulties presented by identifying allergens or bioactive agents. These gene-modified animals span a wide range and include products which make the animals healthier, grow faster, more nutritious or otherwise modify the animal or products. More difficult is the evaluation of risks associated with animals/products developed for non-food purposes (e.g., vaccines, drugs, fibers). As animals end their productive life, entry of these animals into the food chain will be sought. Products expressed primarily in milk and secreted through the mammary gland may be found in the general circulation. In addition, most of the useful non-food production will be associated with one gender (e.g., cows that produce a drug in their milk). However, homologous organs are known to express the gene product. Since animals are much closer in physiology to humans than plants, a larger number and variety of issues of safety and health are raised. These include the uncertainty of the science, the lack of appropriate regulatory authority, and perception of animal biotechnology. Risk analysis for animal biotechnology is the biggest challenge facing food safety since the rise of concern for microbial contamination of meat twenty years ago.
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