From: Lisa Millimet [ansoloc@monad.net] Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 7:21 PM To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov Subject: Docket 00N-1396 and Docket 00D-1598 Dear Sirs: I am writing to state my firm belief that genetically engineered foods must be labeled and tested for safety. Guidelines adopted by the FDA thus far are woefully inadequate. Please see the points below. 1. 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. 2. The FDA must require mandatory pre-market long-term health testing. GE products could be toxic, cause allergic responses, have lower nutritional value, and compromise immune responses in consumers. 3. 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. 4. 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, then go back to working for the company. Ninety-two percent of FDA advisory committee meetings had at least one conflict of interest. Sincerely, Lisa Millimet Peterboro, NH