From: flower@pikeonline.net
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 6:00 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.


I'm concerned about the possible formation of new pathogens from GE foods, and the lack of protection for the American people, due to insufficient testing.  My mom took DES before I was born, because she didn't know any better.  The fact that these GE foods are being put on the market just makes us into guinea pigs.  I do not intend to be one of your hapless product-testers and I won't subject my children to potential poisons from GE foods.


Sincerely

Barbara Snyder
171 County Road 21
Barryville, New York 12719