From: k1sol@inetarena.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 2:49 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Oppose FDA's New Regulations on Genetically Engineered Food

Kirsten Solberg
831 SW Vista Ave., 402
Portland, OR  97205 
k1sol@inetarena.com



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

Dear FDA,
 
The FDA's  new policies on genetically engineered (GE) foods are not in the best interest of the public and in opposition to the public's overwhelming consumer demand.   I am opposed to your agency failing 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, could cause allergic responses, could have lower nutrition value, could compromise immune responses in consumers, and could cause irreparable damage to the environment.  As an individual with many allergies and asthma, I feel your actions are putting me at risk. 

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.

I want to feel safe eating foods.  I want to know if my food has been altered.  It is our right to be notified.  It is our right to be informed.  Requring corporations to simply label their products is the right thing to do.

Sincerely,



Kirsten Solberg