From: sirkka299@yahoo.com
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 9:31 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Oppose FDA's New Regulations on Genetically Engineered Food

Susannah Thompson

 

sirkka299@yahoo.com


RE: Docket No. 00N-1396, and 00D-1598

Dear FDA,
 
I strongly disagree with your new policies on genetically engineered (GE) foods. I think that it is very important to require safety testing and mandatory labeling for GE foods. I am greatly concerned with the strong scientific evidence showing numerous potential health and environmental risks to GE foods. The public should be aware 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. 

Consumers have a basic right to know what they are eating.  If I want to avoid something that I feel could possibly be damaging to my health and the health of the environment, I deserve to at least be able to identify it. We have a right to make our own personal choices.  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 will also be deprived of the critical knowledge they need to hold food producers liable should any of these novel foods prove hazardous.

I hope that you will take my comments into consideration.  
Sincerely,



Susannah Thompson