From: trishm@tcac.com
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2001 8:20 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket No. 00N-1396, and 00D-1598



Jane Henney
Dockets Management Branch, Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fisher's Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

Dear Jane Henney,

The new regulations and guidelines put forward by your
agency on genetically engineered (GE) foods are, at
the very least, a disappointment; and, at the very
most, an outright danger to American consumers. 

Despite overwhelming and consistent demand, your agency
still fails to require comprehensive safety testing
for GE foods.  The notification policy simply ignores
strong scientific evidence of numerous potential health
and environmental risks involving GE foods, and allows
the current system of laissez-faire oversight to continue.
 As you know, genetically engineered foods can be toxic;
cause allergic responses; have lower nutrition values;
compromise immune responses; and cause irreparable
damage to the environment. 

I am also greatly opposed to your new "voluntary labeling"
policy, which denies consumers the basic right to make
informed decisions.  Without mandatory labeling, neither
consumers nor health professionals will know if an
allergic or toxic reaction was the result of a genetically
engineered food, possibly hindering proper health care.
 Consumers will also be deprived of the critical knowledge
they need to hold food producers liable should any
of these foods prove hazardous. 

There are proven ecological dangers directly linked
to genetically engineered crops, such as the impacts
on the soil ecosystem and non-target species like Monarch
butterflies.  Consumers have a right to this information,
as well as their right to choose whether or not to
include GE foods in their diets and those of their
children.  We MUST have proper and all-inclusive labeling
in order to make an educated decision. 

Your proposed rules ignore serious concerns at the
convenience the industry and the expense of public
health and the environment. 

I trust you will take my concerns into serious consideration.



Sincerely,


Trish Mulligan
512 W. Church St.
Pocahontas, Arkansas 72455