From: mickiemc@frontiernet.net
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2001 6:04 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Cc: mickiemc@frontiernet.net
Subject: Oppose FDA's New Regulations on Genetically Engineered Food

Donna Hoaglin
3361 Albion Rd
Concord, MI  49237 
mickiemc@frontiernet.net


RE: Docket No. 00N-1396, and 00D-1598

Dear FDA,
 
I am outraged by your new policies on genetically engineered (GE) foods. Despite overwhelming consumer demand, your agency still fails to require safety testing and mandatory labeling for GE foods. Your "notification" policy is an insult to consumers, and irresponsibly ignores strong scientific evidence of numerous potential health and environmental risks to GE foods. You should be aware that these foods could be toxic, do cause allergic responses, could have lower nutrition value, could compromise immune responses in consumers, and could cause irreparable damage to the environment.

Ignoring the complaints that you receive from people who have adverse reactions after eating GM foods is not wise. There is no way of knowing how widespread the problem is, if you don't take
these complaints seriously. Furthermore, there will never be any attempt, by the biotech companies, to modify GM foods so they will be safe for all people. You are not protecting the health of the citizens of the world, when you ignore reports of adverse reactions to foods that are untested, unregulated, and unlabeled. You refuse to even give us a chance to avoid them, because you will not mandate labels. Profits should never be put ahead of the health, and lives, of consumers. We have the right to make our own choices about the foods we eat, and the absolute right to choose not to eat foods that make us ill. Some of us have anaphylactic reactions to food allergens, and this puts our lives in jeopardy. No one has the right to risk our lives, by refusing to let us know about foods that are harmful to us. People can be allergic to any foods, and GM foods are no exception. Peanuts are
labeled, why not GM foods. Show some responsibility in this matter.

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

Your proposed rules ignore serious concerns, and appear to be a decision made to convenience industry at the expense of public health and the environment. I will not accept your attempt to make me a guinea pig of these untested foods, and I trust you will take my concern along with the thousands of others into serious consideration.

Sincerely,



Donna Hoaglin