From: Amber Mintz [amintz@ptd.net]
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 9:51 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

To Whom it may concern:  Please let it be know that I wish the FDA to move
forward with the following requirements:

* mandatory labeling of GE products.
 As a consumer, I fail to see why someone thinks it is appropriate to
withhold knowledge needed to choose my food based upon its GE components. On
the subject of safety, shouldn't  food producers should be held to higher
standards than car manufacturers? Unlabelled food­­ a basic tenet of human
life­ provides consumers with no alternatives.  Everything becomes suspect,
everything is unmeasurable risk.  I can live without a car, yet have more
choices about how much risk I choose to live with than when I eat an apple.
What is preventing the FDA from providing this same level of choice?

* mandatory comprehensive pre-market environmental review.

* 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.  This especially concerns me as both myself
and my son have immunodeficient systems.  We struggle to choose foods on a
daily basis that will not cause an health-threatening allergic reaction. Who
dares play God and assume that GE foods are less hazardous than say, peanuts
or gluten or casein? Without review you have no more proof than a schoolyard
bully saying "because I said so."   Please tell me the FDA expects more from
its people than that....

* eliminate any potential conflict of interest  with committee members and
any companies that produce food.  It is disappointing that this is even an
issue.  With such public awareness of government ethics these days, it
disappoints me that the FDA has not looked inward and eliminated any hint of
impropriety.

Sincerely,


Amber Mintz
528 Hill Road Wernersville PA 19565