From: Center for Food Safety [action@foodsafetynow.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 9:10 AM
To: FDA Commissioner
Cc: president@whitehouse.gov; vice.president@whitehouse.gov;
fdadockets@oc.fda.gov; fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Oppose the New FDA Regulations on GE Foods!

FDA Commissioner 
Dockets Management Branch (HFA 305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fisher's Lane, rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

RE: Docket No. 00N-1396, and 00D-1598

Dear FDA,
 
   I want to make a couple of points in regard to the question of voluntary 
 versus mandatory labelling of GE (and irradiated) foods. Firstly, this is 
a perfectly clear example of an area in which the public had a right to 
know. If industry fears rejection of these products, they should either 
attempt to influence public opinion-- which should be an easy matter, 
given their enormous resources, if they really have science on their 
side-- or stop using them. Hiding the facts from consumers is NOT an 
acceptable option.
   Secondly, I've read enough about both issues to know that there are 
serious questions about the safety and nurtition of these food-producing 
methods. Perhaps it will turn out that they bear very little hazard. But, 
is it not possible that it will turn out that there are serious problems, 
perhaps in a currently unforeseen area? Perhaps as a result of synergistic 
combinations of factors, of elements in the diet that have never been 
present before? If these foods are labelled, at least it will be possible 
to trace the causes after the fact. Of course, should this scenario occur, 
it will also be possible for victims to sue, and I expect this is another 
important reason for industry opposition to labelling. 
   This opposition is therefore perfectly understandable.  YOUR purpose, 
however, is not to coddle and feed industry, but to protect the public 
interest-- whether this pleases industry representatives, both within and 
outside your agency, or not. Right?


Sincerely,



Mary Wildfire
Rt 2 Box 66
Minnora, WV, 25268

CC: 
The President
Vice President Dick Cheney
FDA Dockets Management [Docket No. 00N-1396]
Senator Robert C. Byrd
Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV
Representative Shelley Moore CapitoFDA Dockets Management [Docket No. 
00D-1598]


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