From: sjf [lloegyr@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2001 5:03 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: dockets 

> 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,

Suzanne Feldberg