From: Linda [lindam@greenbuilder.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2001 3:31 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598
I am an extremely concerned citizen regarding genetically engineered food items. We must start demanding that growers and manufacturers of food items label their products, seeds, foods stating whether these foods/items are or contain genetically engineered substances. The public has a right to know what they are eating and the right to make choices based on knowledge of the products they buy. In addition:
* The FDA must 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.

* The FDA must 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.

* The FDA must 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.

The public has a right to know and to choose what to eat.

Thank you for your attention.

Linda Montignani
Austin, TX