From: mamaevon@cs.com
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 12:22 AM
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.


Starlink corn was a good lesson on the importance of labeling.  Those of us who would choose to buy food that is not tampered with would have avoided the GE corn products; not only could I not avoid them, I inadvertently ate corn not meant for human consumption.  Very upsetting!


Sincerely

Evonne Hockert
17351 Interlachen Dr NE
Ham Lake, Minnesota 55304