(Natural News)—The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has quietly green lit the first-ever gene-edited pigs for human consumption, marking a controversial leap into the future of biotechnology. While corporate giants and biotech proponents celebrate this as a solution to disease-ridden factory farming, skeptics warn of hidden dangers—unintended genetic mutations, viral resistance, and a disturbing lack of transparency for consumers. As CRISPR-altered pork inches toward dinner tables, the question remains: Are we trading short-term agricultural gains for long-term health disasters?
Key points:
- The FDA approved gene-edited pigs resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), a costly virus plaguing industrial pig farms.
- CRISPR technology removes a cellular receptor to block PRRS, but critics warn the virus could mutate into more dangerous strains.
- No labeling requirements mean consumers may unknowingly eat gene-edited pork as early as next year.
- Previous gene-editing experiments have led to unintended side effects, raising concerns about food safety.
- The approval follows a pattern of regulatory secrecy, with the FDA failing to prominently disclose the decision.
The hidden cost of “disease-resistant” pork
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) has plagued pig farms for decades, causing massive economic losses. Genus, a British biotech firm, claims its CRISPR-edited pigs—engineered to lack the CD163 receptor targeted by PRRS—could be the answer. However, genetic modifications often have unintended consequences. In 2018, He Jiankui’s controversial CRISPR experiment on human embryos demonstrated the technology’s unpredictability. While pigs are not humans, similar risks exist: viruses evolve, and genetic alterations may disrupt biological functions in unforeseen ways. As one expert warned, PRRS has no simple fix—CRISPR may create new problems while solving old ones.
He Jiankui’s controversial human embryo experiment
He Jiankui used CRISPR to edit human embryos (targeting the CCR5 gene) to purportedly confer HIV resistance.
- Unintended consequences: Off-target effects or disruptions to other genes could lead to long-term health risks.
- Ethical violations: Lack of transparency, informed consent, and regulatory oversight raised global condemnation.
- Existential risks: Germline editing (heritable changes) could have unpredictable effects on future generations.
The PRRS-resistant pig dilemma
Genus’s CRISPR-edited pigs lack the CD163 receptor, theoretically making them immune to PRRS.
- Viral evolution: PRRS virus could adapt, rendering the genetic fix obsolete.
- Biological disruption: Removing CD163 (a multifunctional protein) may impair immune responses or metabolic functions.
- Unintended effects: Similar to He Jiankui’s experiment, CRISPR may introduce new vulnerabilities.
The FDA’s silent approval and the labeling loophole
The FDA quietly approved gene-edited pork without public debate, burying the decision in obscure regulatory documents. Even more concerning, Genus acknowledges that no labeling is required, leaving consumers unaware if their food contains CRISPR-modified meat. The Center for Food Safety has long advocated for transparency, arguing that people deserve the right to know what they’re eating. This secrecy mirrors past failures, such as AquaBounty’s GMO salmon, which faced consumer rejection. If history repeats, gene-edited pork may enter the market unnoticed—until public backlash forces a reckoning.
A dangerous precedent: Who controls our food?
The FDA’s approval of CRISPR pork sets a worrying trend, paving the way for gene-edited chickens, cattle, and other livestock with minimal oversight. Corporate interests, including Bill Gates—a major CRISPR proponent—are driving this agenda under the guise of solving food insecurity. But the lack of long-term safety studies and mandatory labeling raises ethical and health concerns. Critics warn that tampering with nature can backfire, introducing unforeseen risks to human health and ecosystems. As industrial agriculture pushes forward, food sovereignty—the right to choose what we eat—hangs in the balance.
What you can do
Buy organic – USDA-certified organic products prohibit GMOs, including CRISPR-edited meat.
Support local farmers – Seek out transparent, ethical meat sources that avoid genetic modifications.
Demand labeling – Advocate for laws requiring clear GMO labeling so consumers can make informed choices.
Reduce industrial meat consumption – Opt for pasture-raised, non-GMO, and regenerative farming options.
The CRISPR food revolution is already underway, but public awareness and resistance can shape its future. The question remains: Will we accept unregulated genetic experiments in our food, or demand accountability
Sources include:
Why One Survival Food Company Shines Above the Rest
Let’s be real. “Prepper Food” or “Survival Food” is generally awful. The vast majority of companies that push their cans, bags, or buckets desperately hope that their customers never try them and stick them in the closet or pantry instead. Why? Because if the first time they try them is after the crap hits the fan, they’ll be too shaken to call and complain about the quality.
It’s true. Most long-term storage food is made with the cheapest possible ingredients with limited taste and even less nutritional value. This is why they tout calories so much. Sure, they provide calories but does anyone really want to go into the apocalypse with food their family can’t stand?
This is what prompted the Llewellyns to launch Heaven’s Harvest. They bought survival food from multiple companies and determined they couldn’t imagine being stuck in an extended emergency with such low-quality food. They quickly discovered that freeze drying food for long-term storage doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor, consistency, or nutrition.
Their ingredients are all-American. In fact, they’re locally sourced and all-natural! This allows their products to be the highest quality on the market, so good that their customers often break open a bag in a pinch to eat because they want to, not just because they have to due to an emergency.
At Heaven’s Harvest, their only focus is amazing food. They don’t sell bugout bags, solar chargers, or multitools. They have one mission – feeding Americans in times of crisis.
What they DO offer is the ability for people to thrive in times of greatest need. On top of long-term storage food, they offer seeds to help Americans for the truly long-term. They want them to grow their own food if possible which is why they offer only Heirloom, Non-GMO, Non-Hybrid, Open-Pollinated seeds so their customers can build permanent food security on their own property.