From: Suzanne Roberts [sroberts@wafs.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 5:39 PM
To: 'fdadockets@oc.fda.gov'
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 and 00D-1598

Dear Commissioner Henney,
The proposed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations fail to require
labels or safety tests on genetically engineered (GE) food. The new rules
continue to deny Americans the right to know what is in our food, while
protecting the economic interests of biotech corporations.
Labeling GE foods would protect the public from potential health effects
that could only be traced if GE foods can be identified. By refusing to
require both labeling and mandatory safety testing of foods, the FDA puts
consumer's health at risk, and ignores the recommendations of the
Biotechnology Consultative Forum, who in December urged the US to require
mandatory labeling of GE foods.
The fact the the FDA and the Biotech firms are arrogant enough to assume
there is no risk to genetically engineering foods is astonishing.  Haven't
we learned from all the other products that have been introduced, lauded as
"miracles of technology" only to later discover minor, major and even
horrifying side-effects.  These side effects may not even occur in humans,
they may occur in a butterfly or a weed.  Seemingly harmless on a small
scale but with long-reaching effects that can spread and multiply until our
entire eco-system is out of whack. We cannot play Mother Nature with our
food supply.  We will lose.
I urge you to reconsider this proposal and insure that GE foods are subject
to pre-market testing and labeling.  Americans have a right to make informed
decisions about the food we consume.
Sincerely