From: shahjahan@ureach.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 3:09 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.


Firstly, please rethink your support for GMO's. Please realize that you will be judged by your conscience and the future generations for your actions. Moreover, don't ignore the information that genetically engineered foods have no track record of safety, and can be disastrous in ways as of yet unforeseen. Use of GMO foods requires extreme caution.


Sincerely

Soumil Mehta
25600 Rolling Hills Way
Torrance, California 90505