From: anna4310@earthlink.net
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2001 2:09 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.


As a mother of two young children I would like to know what my children are eating.  For now I buy Organic food.  However, I have heard that genetically modified corn has shown up on farms that did not plant it, simply because these farms were next door to those with GM crops.  This is scary.  What is even more scary is that our government is feeding us this without letting us know.  Please label GM food or get rid of it!


Sincerely

Anna Creissen
4310 Hope Valley Drive
Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278