Experts 'vindicate' farmer in cloned meat inquiry

THE SCOTTISH farmer at the centre of an investigation over cloned food says he has been vindicated by a report that found such produce is safe to eat.

Newmeadow Farm, near Nairn, run by father and son Calum and Steven Innes, was investigated earlier this year after two bulls grown from embryos of a cow cloned in the US were slaughtered and meat sold. The investigation has since been dropped.

The Innes family insisted they did nothing wrong and had followed all traceability regulations.

Steven Innes said yesterday: "This is exactly what we have been saying since the start. We knew they would get there eventually, it's just a shame it's taken them so long to get there."

Meat and milk from cloned cattle and their offspring is no different to conventionally-bred produce and is safe to eat, independent experts have said.

The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) said there was no evidence of any differences between produce from cloned animals and that from conventionally-bred cattle.

Andrew Wadge, chief scientist at the Food Standards Agency, said yesterday: "In considering this hypothetical application, the ACNFP has confirmed that meat and milk from cloned cattle and their offspring is unlikely to present a food safety risk."