From: mlcrossan@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2001 12:27 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.


Even our non-genetically engineered food is so depleted of necessary nutrients that we are experiencing epidemic proportion illness at all ages.  Can't you imagine what food not even designed by God could do to us??  Put your efforts into cleaning up the environment and eliminating some of the toxins we breathe, eat and drink.  That would be much more beneficial.


Sincerely

Michele Crossan
3420 Antero Drive
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80920