From: The Meyers [maurisue@icehouse.net]
Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2001 5:52 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Please label Genetically Engineered Food NOW!!!!!

Dear FDA officials;

The Food and Drug Administration is now accepting public
> > comment on its proposed new rules on genetically engineered
> > (GE) foods.  Despite overwhelming consumer demand, the FDA
> > has failed to require health and ecological safety testing
> > or mandatory labeling, and thus puts your health and our
> > environment at risk and deprives you of the right to know
> > or choose what you are eating.
> >
> > The proposed rules:
> >
> > * Do not require mandatory pre-market safety testing
> > * Do not require pre-market environmental review
> > * Do not require mandatory labeling of GE foods
> > * Restrict voluntary labeling of non-GE foods
> > * Require a mere letter of notification prior to the
> >   marketing of a GE food
> > * Fail to ensure public access to adequate information
> >   for independent review
> > * Are supported by industry and opposed by consumer groups
> >
> >
> >
> > The FDA needs to hear from hundreds of thousands of Americans
> > that:   (note: the following can be the points in your letter to 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.

This is extremely important to everyone who knows about it.  Please respond by acting in behalf of the people now!!!
There is too much ignorance in government today already.  At least be willing to right this wrong for our nation.  Other countrys are already doing it.  What is happening to the United States of America?  I feel as a voting citizen, that I have little to no influence over my life or country anymore.  At least let me be aware of what I'm putting into the mouths and bodies of myself and my children.

Sincerely,
Mauri S. Westmoreland
548 E. Dakota
Hayden, Id. 83835
e-mail  maurisue@icehouse.net