From: dkimble1@bigred.unl.edu
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2001 11:35 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.


We don't know what will happen if people eat these foods for years, particularly those starting as infants or young children.  I developed pencillian allergy in my 30's & was one of the children growing up who was given penicillian for everything except a cold.  Maybe I was always a candidate for allergic reactions to penicillian or maybe it was receiving too much penicillian as a child because it was the "wonder" drug.  Something similar may be happening with genetically engineered foods now.  But, we won't know until it's too late for the people affected.


Sincerely

Diane Kimble
1739 G St.  A-4
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-3739