From: Melissa [mkazas@home.com]
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 10:16 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Cc: action201@sustainableagriculture.net
Subject: Docket No. 00N-1396 & Docket No. 00D-1598 

FDA Commissioner, Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305)

Require Testing and Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food

FDA must Require mandatory pre-market safety testing: GE foods could be
toxic, could cause allergic responses, could have lower nutritional value,
and could compromise immune responses in consumers;
! FDA must Require mandatory pre-market environmental review: GE crops and
foods could cause irreparable damage to the environment;
! FDA must Require mandatory labeling of GE foods: Without mandatory
labeling, neither consumers nor health professionals will know if an
allergic or toxic reaction was the result of a genetically engineered food.

This "Notification" policy is an insult to consumers, and irresponsibly
ignores strong scientific evidence of numerous potential health and
environmental risks of GE foods. These Rules appear to be a decision made
to convenience industry at the expense of public health, consumer
information, and the environment.



Despite overwhelming consumer demand, the FDA has failed to require safety
testing, mandatory labeling and other consumer protections for GE foods.
This must be changed for the well-being of all of us, especially our
children. Scientists wonder why the poorer people of our world have more
health problems. I believe it is due to the fact that they do not have the
finances to carefully choose what they eat and are forced to settle for the
cheaper foods instead of organic, non-gmo, and unmodified food which is free
of all the chemicals and preservatives which are added to most foods. It
seems that the more chemicals the cheaper the food. Organic, non-gmo, and
unmodified foods should be made readily available to everyone. Free of all
pesticides and preservatives. They are harming our children. I believe the
violence we are seeing in our children is being caused by all the chemicals,
pesticides, preservatives, and environmental pollutions we are subjecting
them to.

Genetically engineered foods must be safety-tested and labeled so that we
can choose whether or not to participate in this mass feeding experiment.

Melissa