From: Leonard Mehlmauer [gm@grandmedicine.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 4:22 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: GE foods concern

Dear FDS Folks,

    There are many hundreds of thousands of us who do not know what is being done with the genetic engineering of our foods. We have not been informed as to either advantages or disadvantages. We do not know whether sufficient testing has been done to ensure that we get adequate nutrition and to ensure that the changed foods will not cause undesirable chemical or enzymatic changes within our bodies. Such changes could lead to the development of undiagnosable or of long term illnesses without existent cures. I would prefer to know whether or not I was being sold GE foods so that I would have a choice as to whether or not I would want to feed these to myself or my family. England was exposed to GE foods long before us. Why have they banned it in their country? The following are comments that I agree with and I want my opinion registered as such:

* The FDA must require mandatory pre-market comprehensive environmental review. Unlike conventional pollutants, where a given amount of pollutant causes a limited amount of damage, a small number of mutant genes could have a population explosion and reproduce forever, causing unlimited and irreparable damage.

* The FDA must require mandatory pre-market long-term health testing. GE products could be toxic, cause allergic responses, and have lower nutritional value and compromised immune responses in consumers.

* The FDA must require mandatory labeling of GE products. Without mandatory labeling, neither consumers nor health professionals will know if an allergic or toxic reaction was the result of a genetically engineered food. Consumers would be deprived of the critical knowledge needed to hold food producers liable should any of these novel products be hazardous.

* The FDA must end its cozy relationship with the industries it purports to be regulating. People have been allowed to work for a biotech company, then work for the FDA writing the regulatory rules on that company's product, and then go back to working for the company. Ninety-two percent of FDA advisory committee meetings had at least one conflict of interest.


As a physician, father, grandfather, and private citizen I am quite concerned about this situation.  Please make the necessary changes so we can all have a clear idea as to what we are eating, and so we can rest a little easier, knowing that our government bureaus are doing what we expect them to do to protect our health.  Isn't that what we're paying you for?

Sincerely,

Leonard Mehlmauer, ND

GRAND MEDICINE