From: Center for Food Safety [action@foodsafetynow.org]
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2001 4:15 PM
To: FDA Commissioner
Cc: president@whitehouse.gov; vice.president@whitehouse.gov;
fdadockets@oc.fda.gov; fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Oppose the New FDA Regulations on GE Foods!

FDA Commissioner 
Dockets Management Branch (HFA 305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fisher's Lane, rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

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

Dear FDA,
 
I just learned about your new policies on genetically engineered (GE)foods. 
 I have just one question:
    Who do you think you are? 
Apparently you have forgotten the answer, so I'll remind you:
    You are the protectors of the public.  You have been delagated a 
sacred trust, on behalf of the people of this country.  
     And now, despite overwhelming consumer demand (from those very people 
you are hired to protect), your agency still fails to require safety 
testing and mandatory labeling for GE foods. 
      Now, I understand that your staff and funding are limited, and you 
simply may not have the resources to evaluate and test all products.  THEN 
LET THE PUBLIC DECIDE.   Any inability to fully and adequately do the job 
yourself (which really no one can do in the short term, because the 
potential consequences are much too subtle and long term) makes your 
proposed "voluntary" labeling rule even more outrageous.  Such a policy 
not only is an insult to thoughtful consumers, it totally ignores history.

      WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH ANY OF THE EXPRESSED CONCERNS IS NOT THE 
POINT.   The point is it is your sworn duty to make that information 
available to consumers so THEY can make their decision.  National 
Geographic published a photo a couple years ago of a truck spraying DDT at 
a beach.  The sign said there was no hazard, just avoid the direct spray.  
I'm sure that sign was painted in good faith, just as you are trying to do 
your job in good faith.  However, you don't know what the ultimate truth 
is about the effects of GE foods, and neither do I, and neither does 
anyone else.  And until years of experience and data are available, you 
must not hide the facts from the public that would allow them to make 
their own decisions.  If you do, you not only violate your public trust, 
you conspire with those who would hide damaging information from the 
public.  (A similar group to the ones who tried to convince you that human 
sewage products and other "exceptions" should be used on organically 
labeled foods.)   
       The will of the public is clear.  And it's not a mindless mob 
seeking to drive some company out of business.  People Just Want the 
Information.  GIVE IT TO THEM !  It's your duty!  
       You ultimately did the right thing on organic foods.  Don't sell 
out now to the special interests who would hide the truth.  
      If it turns out that ten years from now we all agree there is no 
problem, then there's no harm done (unless you contend that a few people 
not getting as rich as they would like to be "harm").  But if you join the 
consipracy to hide the information, and ten years from now it becomes 
clear that it was a grave mistake; it will be too late.  And you will be 
the ones responsible.  Don't do that to yourselves.  Make disclosure 
mandatory.  NOW.

Sincerely,

David Leonard


D. Leonard
4152 Club Drive
Atlanta, GA, 30319

CC: 
The President
Vice President Dick Cheney
FDA Dockets Management [Docket No. 00N-1396]
Senator Max Cleland
Senator Zell Miller
Representative Cynthia A. McKinney
Representative John LewisFDA Dockets Management [Docket No. 00D-1598]


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