From: RVarady@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 11:08 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Genetically engineered food

FDA Commissioner 
Dockets Management Branch (HFA 305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fisher’s Lane, rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
                            RE: Docket No. 00N-1396, and 00D-1598

Dear FDA,
 
I am writing to urge you to change your policies on genetically engineered 
(GE)foods. Despite overwhelming consumer demand for safety testing and 
mandatory labeling for GE foods, your agency does not require these basic 
rights for the consumer. Your “notification” policy is inadequate, and 
ignores scientific evidence of health and environmental risks of GE foods. 
These foods may be toxic, cause allergic responses, have lower nutrition 
value, compromise human immune response, and cause irreparable damage to the 
global environment. 
    I am opposed to a “voluntary labeling” policy, which denies consumers 
their basic right to know. Without mandatory labeling, neither consumers nor 
health professionals will be able to determine whether an allergic or toxic 
reaction was the result of a genetically engineered food. Consumers will be 
deprived of the critical knowledge they need to hold food producers liable 
should any of these novel foods prove hazardous.
    Your proposed rules ignore serious concerns, and should not be 
implemented in order to accommodate industrial food giants at the expense of 
public health and the environment. Do not make the consumer the guinea pig 
for these untested foods.
    Please take my concerns into consideration before allowing the production 
and distribution of genetically engineered food products.
    Sincerely,
        Evelyn Varady