June 13, 2001
		Stolen Biotech Pigs Slaughtered and Served at Funeral On June 3, it was disclosed that an animal technician at University of Florida stole three dead genetically altered pigs from the Animal Resources department, one of whom was ground up into sausage and served at a local funeral. Police say Kenny Atkins gave and sold the pig carcasses to two individuals, one of whom gave a pig to a butcher to make into different cuts and sausages. The butcher brought the sausage to a funeral where the tainted meat as sampled but thrown away because "it didn't taste right." University officials had been claiming that all the meat from the genetically altered pigs had been recovered and incinerated. The genetically engineered pigs had also been injected with enough barbiturates and chemicals to kill a 500-pound pig. The stolen pigs were genetically altered to develop a disorder similar to diabetic blindness in humans. University officials do not know what effect the meat could have on those who consumed it. Federal regulators are currently investigating complaints about the facilities animal care procedures. Last June, Jerry Davis, the director of Animal Resources, was fired after the unit was put on probation resulting from an annual inspection that found problems with the care of research animals and the maintenance of the program.