From: afilbert@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2001 4:25 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.


The FDA is proving itself very untrustworthy.  I cannot afford to go all organic yet, but since I find this recent action to be in the best interest of businesses' wallets and not consumers' health, I find myself moving in that direction.  

I don't buy anything in the regular grocery store with either corn or soy in it because I know those items tend to have a high likelihood of being genetically engineered.  Doesn't this hurt the companies that you are trying to protect?  

There are lots people out here to whom avoiding GE foods matters a lot.  Please think of them and do the right thing.  


Sincerely

Sarah  Adams