From: Mark Sorensen [msorens1@ci.tucson.az.us]
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 10:08 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket OON-1396 & Docket OOD-1598

Following are my opinions as a citizen. Please take these into account
in making your decisions regarding the referenced docket items. Thank
you.

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.
Genetically engineered products could be toxic, cause allergic
responses, have lower nutritional value, and compromise immune responses
in consumers.

The FDA must require mandatory labeling of genetically-engineered
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.

In order to eliminate illegal conflict of interset, the FDA must end its
cozy relationship with the industries it purports to be regulating. The
FDA should disallow the current practice of allowing people 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.

It is time for the FDA to accomplish its true mission of serving the
people rather than business interests in conflict with the public good.

Mark Sorensen
6020 West Potrillo Place
Tucson, AZ  85743
marksbfl2000@netscape.net

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MZ