From: Michael Mendocha [mmendocha@qwest.net]
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 6:52 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: "Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598"

Dear FDA:

I am concerned about the FDA's policies toward Genetically Engineered
Foods. I feel the FDA has let the American people down in a number of
areas.  The FDA exists to insure the safety and suitability of Food and
Drugs for the American consumer but the approach regarding GE foods has
been to let these products into the market without testing or labeling.
I feel this is irresponsible.  I have listed my main concerns below.

1.  Mandatory Labeling of GE Products.
  The FDA must require mandatory labeling of GE products.
  Without mandatory labeling, neither consumers nor health
  professionals will know if an allergic or toxic reaction
  was the result of a genetically engineered food. Consumers
  would be deprived of the critical knowledge needed to hold
  food producers liable should any of these novel products
  be hazardous.

2.  Long Term Health Testing.
  The FDA must require mandatory pre-market long-term health
  testing. GE products could be toxic, cause allergic
  responses, have lower nutritional value, and compromise
  immune responses in consumers.

3.  Environmental Review.
  The FDA must require mandatory pre-market comprehensive
  environmental review. Unlike conventional pollutants,
  where a given amount of pollutant causes a limited amount
  of damage, a small number of mutant genes could have a
  population explosion and reproduce forever, causing
  unlimited and irreparable damage.

4. End Conflict of Interest.
  The FDA must end its cozy relationship with the industries
  it purports to be regulating. People have been allowed to
  work for a biotech company, then work for the FDA writing the
  regulatory rules on that company's product, then go back to
  working for the company.  Ninety-two percent of FDA advisory
  committee meetings had at least one conflict of interest.

Please call a moritorium on the use of GE foods and organisms until
these items have been addressed.

Thank you,

Michael Mendocha