From: Naturescape@prodigy.net
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 9:54 PM
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.


If there is nothing wrong with bioengineering why would companies not want to put it on their labels?  That's because there are problems with it!  We have many allergies in our families and need to stay away from certain foods.  I rely on labels to avoid problems with these foods.  My husband is lactose intolerant.  Too much butter and he can't work the next day.  My son and many of his friends are seriously allergic to peanuts.  One of them get's choked up if its in the room.  We need labels!!   PLEASE, PLEASE I must insist, let the consumer be aware of what is going on with our food.  I cannot stand going to the grocery store and not knowing what has been done to the food.  Labeling is the only way to allow us to decide what we want for ourselves.  Not requiring labeling tells us that you are choosing the side of the large companies rather than the consumer.

If bioengineering is safe, then let the companies who choose to experiment educate the consumer.  It will be against the FDA if a study finds that it is harmful to certain people.


Sincerely

Marcie Miner
80 West St.
Andover, Connecticut 06232