From: shirley142@hotmail.com
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 5:10 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: What's in your food? (FDA Dockets 00N-1396 and 00D-1598)


Dear Corporate and Government Leaders,

Neither government nor industry is protecting Americans from the risks posed to human health and the environment by genetically engineered (GE) foods. The Food and Drug Administration's "new" policy on GE foods (proposed January 18, 2001) continues to let the biotech industry regulate itself; it fails to require the long-term, pre-market safety testing demanded by independent experts. The "voluntary labeling" guidelines are a wholly inadequate response to the overwhelming public support for mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. Therefore, I urge you to keep all genetically engineered ingredients and crops off the market unless:

1) Independent safety testing demonstrates they have no harmful effects on human health or the environment, 

2) They are labeled to ensure the consumer's right-to-know, and 

3) The biotechnology corporations that manufacture them are held accountable for any harms they may cause.


It took an illness to bring about my awareness of what is going in our mouths.  I was outraged and started buying foods from health stores, and reading labels.  It has been an ongoing education for me and I am still learning.  My health has been restored through trial and error.  I am terrified of genetically engineered foods and I hope my letter helps to put a stop to this insanity.


Sincerely

Shirley Slaughter
14251 Greenbriar
Oak Park, Michigan 48237