From: John Draper [jdrape@crnet.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2001 10:07 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Cc: Rep. James Leach; Rep. Leonard Boswell; Rep. Jim Nussle; Sen. Tom
Harkin; Sen. Charles Grassley; Larson, Charles
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

Dear Sir or Madam: 

Regarding the FDA's policy on genectically engeneered foods,
I urge you to adopt the following policies: 

Require mandatory pre-market comprehensive  environmental
review. Unlike conventional pollutants,  where a given
amount of pollutant causes a limited amount of damage, a
small number of mutant genes could have a population
explosion and reproduce forever, causing unlimited and
irreparable damage. 

Require  mandatory pre-market long-term health  testing. GE
products could be toxic, cause allergic responses, have
lower nutritional value, and compromise immune responses in
consumers. 

Require mandatory labeling of GE products.  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 would
be deprived of the critical knowledge needed to hold food
producers liable should any of these novel products be
hazardous. 

The FDA must end its cozy relationship with the industries
it purports to be regulating. People have been allowed to
work for a biotech company, then work for the FDA writing
the regulatory rules on that company's product, then go back
to working for the company.  Ninety-two percent of FDA
advisory committee meetings had at least one conflict of
interest.

Sincerely,

John Draper
4610 Tama St.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
52403