From: Paul Keiser [healthalive@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 5:54 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: dockets: 00N-1396 and 00D-1598


Dear FDA Commissioner,
  The proposed FDA regulations fail to require labels or safety tests on 
genetically engineered food.  The new rules continue to deny Americans the 
right to know what is in our food, while protecting the economic interests 
of biotech corps.  Lableing GE foods would protect the public from potential 
hazardous health effects such as food allergies and toxicity that can only 
be traced if GE foods can be identified.  By refusing to require both 
labeling and mandatory pre-market safety testing of foods, the FDA puts 
consumer's health at risk, ignores possible environmental hazards, and fails 
to satisfy the overwhelming desire of Am consumers to exercise freedom of 
choice in the marketplace.
  It is not enough to require that firms simply notify you of their intent 
to market a food produced with genetic engineering; this is no substitute 
for thorough pre-market safety testing.  The proposed "voluntary labeling" 
guidelines will do nothing to inform consumers of the presence of GE 
ingredients in their food, because biotech companies and food manufacturers 
have vehemently opposed labeling in the past and will not voluntarily label 
their foods in the future.  Therefore, I urge you to keep all GE ingredients 
and crops off the market unless or until:
1) Independent safety testing demonstrates they have no harmful effects on 
human health or the environment;
2) They are labeled to ensure consumers right-to-know; and
3) The biotech corporations that produce them are held responsibible for any 
harms they may cause.  This also includes damages to organic and biodynamic 
farmers whose crops are not certified organic because of GE contamination.
  The rest of the world is taking a positive stand to ensure that people 
have a choice in the foods they eat.  The US at this time is being 
controlled by the biotech corp. and other multinational corp. to ensure that 
the most  money can be made now, and the hell with the people and the rest 
of the universe.  The FDA can make a difference.  Act in favor of life, not 
death.
Nancy Jones Keiser
2757 Hayes
Marne, MI  49435
616-677-6176
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