From: Ellen Hartman [elhart@twcny.rr.com]
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2001 2:00 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket: 00N-1396

Dear FDA Commissioner,
 
I am a citizen who tries to eat healthy and feed her children healthy foods. I am concerned that you are NOT concerned about the possible effects of GE foods. It is my understanding that I am not alone in my concern--Americans want GE foods tested for safety and we want them labeled.
 
I spend a lot of time reading the labels on the foods I buy for my family. I'm interested and I want to be informed. If you do not require a GE food to be labeled, you are taking away my right to choose what I want to eat and what I want to feed to my children.
 
The idea that the companies are allowed to put GE foods on the market, on the shelves, or on my table without adequate safety testing is terrifying. How can anyone be sure at this point that absolutely everything about these foods is safe? Should I mention StarLink Corn here?
 
I want to choose my own foods. I want American food products to be accepted and respected in other parts of the world. I want GE foods to be tested and labeled. (I really want you to keep GE foods out of the market until they are tested and tested again in long term studies, but if that's really not possible, I'll settle for mandatory testing and labeling. At least then I'll know what to avoid.)
 
Most sincerely,
Ellen Hartman