From: Dennis Whitworth [denway@teleport.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 5:37 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: re: dockets . 00N-1396 and 00D-1598
Dear Commissioner Henney,

The big American Consumer question is "why does the long awaited FDA policy on genetically engineered (GE) foods not require labeling, or mandatory pre-market safety testing of genetically engineered products?."

One doesn't have to look too far to find the answer. The bio-tech industry has way too much money and way too much influence (campaign contributions) in our government. So much so that it now seems that they control the FDA as well.

You don't think it's an outrage that the potential health effects to the public, which could only be traced if GE foods were labeled, do not need to be identified? 
You don't think it's an outrage that your refusal to implement the recommendations made by the Biotechnology Consultative Forum to require mandatory labeling of GE foods in order to protect a consumers' right to informed choices about what they eat, holds no weight?
You don't think it's an outrage to us when we hear that the FDA's own scientists, who are concerned that the large scale use of transgenic crops pose environmental health risks that threaten the sustainability of agriculture, have received the new policy directive?  The interests of biotech corporations obviously mean more to the FDA than the interests of the public.

Well Commissioner Henney, we do think it's an outrage!

I urge you to reconsider this proposal and insure that GE foods are subject to pre-market testing and labeling. Americans have a right to make informed decisions about the food we consume.

Dennis and Amy Whitworth
1725 SE 34th Ave
Portland, Or 97214