In the news:
Originally published Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 8:46 PM
Oklahoma lawmaker aims to ban fetuses in food with new bill
Oklahoma state Sen. Ralph Shortey said he found online evidence some firms outside of Oklahoma use embryonic stem cells to develop artificial flavors.
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — Based on something he read online, an Oklahoma state senator has introduced a bill that would ban the use of aborted human fetuses in food.
Sen. Ralph Shortey told The Associated Press he found online evidence some firms outside of Oklahoma use embryonic stem cells to develop artificial flavors.
The Daily Oklahoman reported Shortey said he filed the bill after reading last fall that an anti-abortion group, Children of God for Life, had called for a boycott of major food companies that partnered with a biotech firm that produces artificial flavor enhancers, unless the firm stopped using aborted fetal cells to test their products.
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman told The Associated Press the agency has never received any reports of fetuses being used in food production.
Shortey, elected in 2010, has introduced bills that would deny Oklahoma citizenship to children of illegal immigrants born in the state, allow police to confiscate the homes and cars of illegal immigrants and require presidential candidates to provide proof of citizenship before being allowed on Oklahoma's primary ballot.
None have become law.
