From: varg911@yahoo.com
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2001 1:51 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: What's in your food? (FDA Dockets 00N-1396 and 00D-1598)


Dear Corporate and Government Leaders,

Neither government nor industry is protecting Americans from the risks posed to human health and the environment by genetically engineered (GE) foods. The Food and Drug Administration's "new" policy on GE foods (proposed January 18, 2001) continues to let the biotech industry regulate itself; it fails to require the long-term, pre-market safety testing demanded by independent experts. The "voluntary labeling" guidelines are a wholly inadequate response to the overwhelming public support for mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. Therefore, I urge you to keep all genetically engineered ingredients and crops off the market unless:

1) Independent safety testing demonstrates they have no harmful effects on human health or the environment, 

2) They are labeled to ensure the consumer's right-to-know, and 

3) The biotechnology corporations that manufacture them are held accountable for any harms they may cause.


To let these companies regulate them-selves is like saying go ahead and do it just don't tell me about it.  would you tell those that are watching your children (so you can work) just abuse this freedom I give you to regulate your-selves just don't tell me about it and what you do to my children when I am away. If no one is looking out for our better intrest and our health. Why should you expect some one to be looking out for your own children at their place of care?


Sincerely

Cristi  Vargas
Colorado 85532