Consumers’ Purchase Intent Regarding Foods From The Offspring Of Cloned Animals

According to this 2006 study of 1,040 Americans by the Center for Food, Nutrition, and Agriculture Policy (CFNAP) at the University of Maryland, the majority of Americans consume meat on a frequent basis, and most have at least some understanding of the reproductive techniques used in the meat and milk production processes. In addition, this study found that a slight majority would buy — or consider buying — products from cloned animals, if the FDA deemed the process safe.

Key Findings

• The majority (97%) of Americans are consumers of meat, with about 92% eating meat at least once a week, and 39% eating meat daily.
• 47% of Americans drink milk daily, 80% drink milk at least once a week, while 11% never drink milk at all.
• Most Americans believe they have some understanding of the reproductive techniques used to produce meat and milk. Specifically, 52% believe they have a good understanding of artificial insemination, while 42% and 33% assess their understanding similarly of in vitro fertilization and animal cloning techniques, respectively.
• 50% believe animal cloning can be used to breed for meat and milk production.
• 73% have not heard of the FDA report on the use of cloning to breed animals for human food use.
• 64% would continue to buy, or consider buying, products from cloned animals, if the FDA determined it was safe.
• 77% believe cloned animals are identical to parents, while 59% believe animal cloning involves genetic cloning. 41% believe there are no examples in nature of animals reproduced by cloning.
• 69% felt that animal cloning was a likely method for the reproduction of farmed animals in the future, while 10% felt it was unlikely.
• 66% of Americans are uncomfortable using cloning to reproduce animals, though more women (78%) than men (54%) are uncomfortable.
• No predominant reason exists for lack of comfort with cloning. 32% believe it is morally wrong, 26% questioned food safety, and 23% felt that animal cloning would lead to human cloning.
• 32% believe that because scientists have studied animal cloning for decades, it is safe.