From: Center for Food Safety [action@foodsafetynow.org] Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 4:06 PM To: FDA Commissioner Cc: president@whitehouse.gov; vice.president@whitehouse.gov; fdadockets@oc.fda.gov; fdadockets@oc.fda.gov Subject: Oppose the New FDA Regulations on GE Foods! FDA Commissioner Dockets Management Branch (HFA 305) Food and Drug Administration 5630 Fisher's Lane, rm. 1061 Rockville, MD 20852 RE: Docket No. 00N-1396, and 00D-1598 Dear FDA, I am deeply concerned about the new policies on genetically engineered (GE)foods. Despite repeated consumer requests that GE foods be clearly identifiable, the FDA has, as repeatedly, failed to require safety testing and mandatory labeling for GE foods without justification. If, as is to be ascertained by the lack of action by the FDA, GE is perfectly safe, in both the short and the long term, to consumers and, as inaction also indicates, poses no hazard to the environment (it should be clear that this also entails a safe environment in which crops/seeds/soil will not become abortive) then it is reasonable to either (a) state these assumptions in a clear and unambivalent manner, or (b) state that the results of testing is inconclusive and the consumer should take this unto consideration when purchasing a food item. In light of the fact that many assert that there is strong scientific evidence of numerous potential health and environmental risks to GE foods and that these foods could be toxic, could cause allergic responses, could have lower nutrition value, could compromise immune responses in consumers, and could cause irreparable damage to the environment, it is only prudent and even moral that consumers be allowed to make personal but informed decisions. I, myself, have some very strong misgivings about the 'new' GE bananas. It may sound outrageous, but the new pulp of the banana, the rapidity with which they spoil, the terrible and unnatural flavor of them all raises questions about how they differ from 'real' bananas on a much more serious level. Indeed, I shy from feeding my children (who are very young)too much of any one fruit but I particularly avoid the bananas because I simply do not know what their effects might be. Again, if you and your agency believe that there is no risk posed to consumers, why not simply make that an explicit position of the FDA and require manufactureres to lable their GE products as such? Your hesitancy to clear the matter is the culprit of public mistrust. By continuing to appear to ignore, rather than disclaim, serious concerns, and stay in line with rules that benefit industrial insiders at the expense of public health and the environment, you (i.e. the FDA) undermine the public trust in any official position of the FDA. I am sorry, but my very nature (unaltered since conception)cannot ignorantly accept any attempt to make me a guinea pig of these untested foods. I do thoughtfully request and, in fact, trust you will take these concerns of mine, and my children -- although they don't know it -- along with those of others, into serious consideration. Afterall, if full disclosure is required for the selling of a home, a used car, etc., shouldn't full disclosure also be a condition of selling modified food? Not everyone buys a home or drives a car but everyone, and that is EVERYONE, must eat food. Sincerely, Christina Suthammanont Christina Suthammanont 124 Sherman Place Jersey City, NJ, 07307 CC: The President Vice President Dick Cheney FDA Dockets Management [Docket No. 00N-1396] Senator Robert Torricelli Senator Jon Corzine Representative Steven R. Rothman Representative Robert MenendezFDA Dockets Management [Docket No. 00D-1598] To the recipient -- this fax/email message has come to you via the Center for Food Safety web site -- a public tool for providing input on food safety issues. The user/site visitor had complete control over editing the content of this message. Thus, the opinions expressed in this message are not necessarily those of CFS or its parent organization, ICTA. Please contact CFS at (202)547-9359 or email office@centerforfoodsafety.org with any questions. Thank you. ___________________________________________________________________________ This letter was composed at www.foodsafetynow.org, a web site maintained by: The Center for Food Safety, 666 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, Suite 302 Washington, DC 20003 PH: (202)547-9359 Fax: (202)547-9429 Email: office@centerforfoodsafety.org web: www.centerforfoodsafety.org