Public opinion studies show most Americans do not like the idea of food from cloned animals. But this research also shows the public knows little about cloning.

   The FDA says most food from cloning is expected to come not from clones themselves, but from their sexually reproduced offspring. It says clones are expected to be used mostly as breeding animals to spread good qualities.

   Clones are still rare. They cost a lot and are difficult to produce.

   For now, the government will continue to ask producers to honor a request that they not sell foods from cloned animals.

   The agency says it must receive comments by April second. The FDA seemed ready to act several years ago, but a committee called for more research.

   The United States this year could become the first country to agree to the sale of foods from cloned animals. First, however, the public will have ninety days to comment on three suggested documents. On December 28th the FDA released a long report, called a draft risk assessment, along with two policy documents.

   The Food and Drug Administration says meat and milk from clones of adult cattle, pigs and goats are safe to eat. An FDA official called them “as safe to eat as the food we eat every day.” And when those clones reproduce sexually, the agency says, their offspring (后代) are safe to eat as well. But research on cloned sheep is limited. So the FDA proposes that sheep clones not be used for human food.

   The United States government wants to know what the public thinks about its findings on the safety of cloned animals.

                                   A