From: Tamara L. DeSchepper [tahmi@nationhost.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 1:22 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

To Whom It May Concern:

I have grave concerns about GE foods, and I have to wonder why the companies
that make GE foods are so against mandatory labeling - what is it that they
are trying to hide? If these things are as great as they claim, then why not
let the free market forces see if their ideas are really so great? A free
market comes down to choice. Why are consumers allowed to choose their foods
based on salt content, fat content, sugar content, organic content - yet be
denied the ability to make choices based on GE or non-GE content? We have
seen time and again (the tobacco trials have been just the latest) that when
an individual, a corporation, or a government tries to keep something
secret, it's never been in the best interests of the end consumer.
Therefore, I will not support any regulation of GE foods that does not
include the following:


* 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.

Thank you for taking the time to read my viewpoint.

Sincerely,

Tamara L. DeSchepper