From: Michelle Longino [michellelongino@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2001 3:48 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

I am writing to voice my concern and my
recommendations regarding the FDA's position on
genetically engineered food products.  The FDA's job
is to work as a government entity protecting
consumers' interests and health.  I am very
distressed, but not surprised,  to find out that the
FDA is apparently more interested in maintaining its
close alliance w/ biotech industries than protecting
consumer interests.  Knowing that this is FDA
position, I am strongly requesting the FDA to
ameliorate and amend its industry alliance and promote
consumer information and interests in the following
manner.  I encourage that the FDA:
* 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.

Please inform me of your decisions on these vital
matters as my health and wellbeing and those of other
American consumers depends on you.
Thank you,
Michelle Longino




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