From: Nik Myers [NMyers@mbayaq.org]
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 12:38 PM
To: 'fdadockets@oc.fda.gov'
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

> Dear Sirs:
> 
> I am writing to state my firm belief that genetically engineered foods
> must be labeled and tested for safety.  Guidelines adopted by the FDA
> thus far are woefully inadequate.  Please see the points below.
> 
> 1.  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.
> 
> 2.  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. 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.
> 
> 4.  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.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
Nik Myers
1261 Fourth St
Monterey Ca 93940  
>  
> 
> 
> 
>