'No evidence' that cloned meat could harm health

FARMERS AT one of Shropshire's largest agricultural shows today claimed there was "no significant evidence" meat from cloned cows could harm health.

It was revealed yesterday that bulls bred from a cloned cow and reared on a farm in Albrighton, before being sold to a dealer elsewhere in the country, had entered the food chain.

But today farming leaders at Burwarton Show in Cleobury North, which is expected to draw about 20,000 visitors, said they did not believe it was detrimental to health.

Clare Greener, senior policy advisor for West Midlands National Farmers' Union said: "Our stance is that there is no significant evidence to suggest that eating meat from cloned cows is in anyway detrimental to health, though we respect the requirements of the Food Standards Agency that they can't be sold.

Regulations

"We would always insist that our members follow regulations as laid down by the Food Standards Agency."

Ms Greener said she had recently visited Canada and America to look at meat production and the UK had one of the best traceability systems in operation.

Phil Allman, who farms cattle at Amberly Court, in North Herefordshire, said: "They have found the meat so the tracking system has worked and it's proved we are doing things right as regards to safety."

Burwarton Show organisers said they had had a busy morning, with numbers through the gate up on last year.

Ian Suthers, chief gate steward for the past 10 years said: "I think it's probably better than last year we had to open two gates earlier than normal judging by the crowds at this time I think we're going to have more than last year".

The show regularly draws around 20,000 visitors.

By Hannah Costigan