From: Kumar Nochur [knochur@mediaone.net]
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 10:32 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: GE Food Labeling

> > Dear FDA Commissioner,
> >
> > The proposed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations fail to
> > require labels or safety tests on genetically engineered (GE) food. The
> > new rules continue to deny Americans the right to know what is in our
> > food, while protecting the economic interests of biotech corporations.
> >
> > Labeling 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 American 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
> > genetically engineered 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 genetically engineered 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 consumers1 right-to-know; and
> >
> > 3) The biotechnology corporations that produce them are held responsible
> > for any harms they may cause.
> >
> > Sincerely,

N.S. Kumar