From: chales@california.com
Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2001 7:31 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Cc: chales@california.com
Subject: Oppose FDA's New Regulations on Genetically Engineered Food

Charles Chappell
2635 Trenton Ct
Marina, CA  93933

chales@california.com


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

Dear FDA,
 
     GE foods or GMOs have been a hot topic of discussion lately, and I can't say I blame anyone for it.  Never before have we wielded such power, as to change the very code of life, determining how an organism will develop.  It's a frightning new world for a lot of people, but a world with promice as well.
     HOWEVER, with increasing power comes increasing responsibility.  If this doesn't occur, tyranny results, as history has recorded again and again.  This is no trivial power we play with either.  If I were a religious man, I would say Genetic Manipulation is Playing God.  Not even the power doctors yield can compare to the possibilities of changing organisms to suit your particular purpose.
     What's already happened has frightened me, as Michael Crichton book "Jurrasic Park" had a forward telling about an airborne version of rabies being carried on a consumer airliner.  That was irresponsible, but at least contained.  The new trend is even more frightening to me.
     I like to know what I'm eating.  Every consumer should.  It's good health to know what's actually going into your body.  New rules should stipulate that this knowledge be availible.  Before GE and GMOs, I could pick up a tomato in the store, and know for certain, what I was eating.  Today, I'm not so sure, but I at least know from the labeling and how it's marketed.
     I not only want, but demand the assurance that when I pick up a pear, carrot, mushroom, or a peach, that I know what it is I'm actually picking up.  I demand to know that what I hold in my hand is what nature developed as an edible fruit.

     I demand to know when it was developed to be more convinient for someone else to pick, package and ship, than nessisarily for my nutrician.  Frankly, that's what GEs and GMOs are.  They are cheaper because they were made to ship, which I frankly, could care less about.  I'd rather have food that's better to EAT.  That is the goal of food, isn't it?  To be eaten as nutrician.
     To be perfectly fair, anyone should be able to make food that was designed to ship better, but they damn well better label it that way.  Labels are currently required on manufactured foods, and in no uncertain terms, GE foods are manufactured.  They need to be labeled as such.
Charles Chappell