The Top 10 Everything of 2008

5. Genetically modified meat: coming soon to a grocer near you?

In September the FDA released draft guidelines on how to regulate genetically engineered animals for food-production purposes. But critics say the new guidance is weighted too heavily in favor of food companies' bottom lines, without giving adequate consideration to the effect herds of so-called Frankenstein animals — such as fast-growing salmon, pigs chock full of healthy omega-3 fatty acids and goats with protein-laden milk — could have on unmodified species or the ecosystems they inhabit. Another big area of concern is that the guidelines don't call for labeling meat and milk products derived from genetically modified animals. In October, a Consumer Reports survey of more than 1,000 people nationwide found that some 95% of respondents agreed food products made from genetically engineered animals should be labeled as such.

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