wasn't it Gene Pharming, the Dutch compagny who performed the bull Herman whose
daughters were able to produce human lactoferrin?

The scandal that came out was that Numico (during hat time still called Nutricia)
, the babyfoodproducer, was involved in it. Numico is also producer of 'dietfood',
and claimed to was only intended for kidneypatients (but see below..)

The promised to step out of the project.

Old news:

New Scientist, 8 May 1993:

...In 1989 Gene Pharming was granted permission to try and create a cow wich
carried a modified version of the human gene for lactoferrin...the hope was
originally that the protein would prevent mastitis in cows.  However, the
company's best endeavours produced not a cow, but Herman.

....Last december, parliament (Dutch) decided to allow Herman to procreate after
Gene harming said that its lactoferrin would be useful for treating gut
infections common in people with cancer.

....Herman de Boer, the head of the company, says one fo the main uses of
lactoferrin will be to enrich baby milk, which is clearly not lifesaving.  A
spokesman for Nutricia, the main Dutch manufacturer of baby milk, says it is not
clear whether human lactoferrin can help to prevent gut infection in babies.
It failed to show any benefit in an experiment in which it was added to baby
milk powder.
************************
See also:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_600000/600551.stm


I've been searching on the several sites of Numico
www.numico.com
www.nutricia.nl
http://www.numico-research.nl


but there is no mention of it anymore.


regards, Annelies Bon
Lay counsellor of the Dutch bf organization "Borstvoeding Natuurlijk"

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