From: Kate Tierney [KTierney@unfi.com]
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 8:19 AM
To: 'fdadockets@oc.fda.gov'
Cc: Kate Tierney
Subject: GE


To Whom It May Concern:

I understand you are accepting comments at this time on the issue of
genetically engineered products. I would like the FDA to consider the
following requests. This issue is very important to my industry as well as
the American people as a whole. Please act responsibly.



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.

* I am also concerned with the relationship the FDA has 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.  Ninety-two percent of FDA advisory 
  committee meetings had at least one conflict of interest.

Kate Tierney
Director of Sales
United Natural Foods Rainbow