From: christine wilson [chris1@inteliport.com]
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 12:12 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket OON-1396 and Docket OOD-1598

Dear Food and Drug Administration,
 
     I am writing to urge you to require comprehensive, long-term, and independent safety testing and environmental impact studies for all GE food products.  I also urge you to make labeling mandatory for all foods that have been genetically modified or that contain genetically modified ingredients.  My understanding is that the FDA's present proposed regulations for GE foods don't require any of these things. This concerns me as  I don't see how public safety can be reasonably assured unless these steps are taken.  
     The possible short and long term consequences of releasing transgenic organisms into our environment are not well enough known and possibly much too grave for this to be done without serious and independent studies being done before any release or marketing takes place.  Many scientists, including Jane Rissler, John Hagelin, and Norman Ellstrand, have expressed concerns about the potential health and environmental risks of developing, utilizing, and marketing GMOs without rigorous safeguards and and testing.  The risks include possible new allergens, GE "pesticides" impacting species others than those targeted, the transference of modified genes from domestically bred and engineered species to their wild counterparts, etc.  
     Another factor that concerns me is simply the right of consumers to know what they're getting.  Many people, for health, religious, or other reasons, would prefer to avoid GE foods.  So I believe that labeling should absolutely be mandatory for genetically engineered foods, as I understand that it already is for irradiated foods.
     Protect the health and rights of consumers by setting up strict regulations mandating the independent and rigorous safety and environmental impact testing of GE products BEFORE they can be marketed.  And make labeling of all GE products mandatory. 
                                                                                                      Sincerely, Christine Elaine Wilson