New Report: Genetically Engineered Animals Increase Risks to Public Health, Animal Welfare

WASHINGTON — A new report from Friends of the Earth U.S. raises urgent concerns about the growing threat of genetically engineered (GE) animals in the U.S. food system. The report updates the organization’s 2019 analysis and highlights emerging scientific evidence and regulatory gaps following recent federal approvals of GE animals for human consumption.

Since 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three genetically engineered animals, including cattle modified for heat tolerance and pigs engineered for disease resistance or reduced allergenicity. According to the report, these most recent developments signal a troubling shift toward redesigning animals to fit industrial farming conditions rather than addressing systemic problems such as overcrowding, pollution, and animal suffering.

“Genetically engineering animals to survive factory farm conditions is not innovation—it’s a step backward,” said Dana Perls, Senior Program Manager at Friends of the Earth. “These technologies reinforce a harmful system instead of fixing it, while introducing new and poorly understood risks to public health and animal welfare.”

Key Findings:

• Animal Welfare Concerns: The report documents significant suffering in the development of GE animals, including high failure rates in cloning and gene-editing processes, birth defects, and elevated mortality rates. Many animals experience chronic health issues and early death related to unintended genetic changes.
• Public Health Risks: GE animals may contribute to antibiotic resistance, increase the risk of more virulent viruses, and introduce novel allergens into the food supply. For example, one approved GE pig contains an antibiotic-resistant marker gene inserted as part of the GE process that could potentially spread resistance through the environment or food chain.
• Inadequate Regulation: The report finds that oversight of GE animals is fragmented and insufficient. The FDA relies heavily on company-submitted data, with limited independent review or public transparency. In some cases, products have been allowed to enter the market without full safety assessments.
• Lack of Transparency: Consumers are often left in the dark due to weak labeling requirements and limited access to safety data. Current rules may not require labeling for all GE animal products, especially when modified DNA is not detectable.

The report argues that these technologies exacerbate the very problems they claim to solve, including disease outbreaks and environmental degradation, while diverting attention from proven solutions.

“We need to transform our food system—not engineer animals to endure its failures,” said Kendra Klein, Deputy Director of Science at Friends of the Earth. “Agroecological and pasture-based farming systems offer real solutions that protect public health, improve animal welfare, and reduce environmental harm.”

Friends of the Earth is calling on policymakers to halt further approvals of genetically engineered animals, strengthen regulatory oversight, and invest in sustainable farming systems rooted in animal welfare, environmental justice, and public health.

Media contact: Lindsay Tice, [email protected]