From: anneokle@sptc.net
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 10:53 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: What's in your food? (FDA Dockets 00N-1396 and 00D-1598)


Dear Corporate and Government Leaders,

Neither government nor industry is protecting Americans from the risks posed to human health and the environment by genetically engineered (GE) foods. The Food and Drug Administration's "new" policy on GE foods (proposed January 18, 2001) continues to let the biotech industry regulate itself; it fails to require the long-term, pre-market safety testing demanded by independent experts. The "voluntary labeling" guidelines are a wholly inadequate response to the overwhelming public support for mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. Therefore, I urge you to keep all genetically engineered ingredients and crops off the market unless:

1) Independent safety testing demonstrates they have no harmful effects on human health or the environment, 

2) They are labeled to ensure the consumer's right-to-know, and 

3) The biotechnology corporations that manufacture them are held accountable for any harms they may cause.


Sirs;  I live and farm in an area where these crops are grown.  The spraying has tripled and it is destroying non ge crops.  There will have to be an accounting for this.  You are not taking into consideration that on top of the unhealthy GM foods citizens are being sprayed daily with toxic chemicals.  This should also be in the labeling...that the crops have been sprayed many times during the growing season with deadly chemicals.  Are you attempting to supress this information as the chemical co's have been doing for a least 50 years.   From Bill Moyer's report.
People have a right to know and it should not be decided by a few that lean toward Corporate greed over the health, safety and RIGHTS of the consumer.   LABEL ALL FOODS!!  Bill Ashley


Sincerely

Bill Ashley
HC 2 Box 24
Ralls, Texas 79357