Food, health and animal research: on the need for ethical reflections on uncertainty in animal research

Both food and biomedical research on animals are meant to further our knowledge about improving health. However, due to a generally low translational value, the use of animals for research has become a contentious issue, hence calls for more efficient replacements. However, data obtained through the current alternatives to animal testing, such as in vitro, are also deemed insufficient without an in vivo component. Because, whatever their translational potential might be, most research models’ physiological and genetic traits closely mimic those of humans. This raises the question to what extent factors other than inter-species differences contribute to inefficiency of animal studies and whether improving them can make up for these differences. Moreover, the need to further health-related research on animals should be weighed against the moral mandate to avoid unnecessary harm. However, the problem of uncertainty in determining the translational value of animal studies for clinical trials complicates answers to such questions. In this paper, we argue that a more integrated approach by all the relevant stakeholders to actively improving translatability of animal models within the research chain would help inform responsible research strategies, thereby improving the ethical acceptability of animal research.