From: Athena Fannin [leyd_dragon@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 5:12 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

To whom it may concern,
I have heard that the FDA is cosidering taking the
following actions on genetically engineered
foodstuffs.
The FDA on genetically engineered foods:
* Do not require mandatory pre-market safety testing
* Do not require pre-market environmental review
* Do not require mandatory labeling of GE foods
* Restrict voluntary labeling of non-GE foods
* Require a mere letter of notification prior to the 
  marketing of a GE food
* Fail to ensure public access to adequate information
for independent review
* Are supported by industry and opposed by consumer
groups

As an American consumer, Head of household, Biotech
employed mother I feel compelled to inform you that to
continue to support Biotech industries thirst for
profit over public safety and right to know is
irresponsible. The FDA must respond to humans over
dollars by doing the following:

* 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, have lower nutritional value, and
compromise 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 should not restrict voluntary labeling of
non-genetically engineered food in anyway. there is no
good reason to other than to protect the interest of
businesses who use genetically engineered foods.
* The FDA must end its cozy relationship with the
industriesit 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.

* The FDA must require that biotech comapnies take
steps to insure that genetically engineered
foodsources do not outbreed wildtype supplies. A GE
food sources that grows wonderfully in rain fed
conditions may wither in famine conditions. if the
wildtype naturally bred to provide nutrients during
famine is not available for growth then any population
that dependent on that crop or animal will starve from
lack of product or lack of income based on that
product.


The FDA is a federal group, place there by the
government, which is created, supported, given its
power by the people and intened to protect the people.
NOT business. It is moral responsibility of
the FDA to protect the people. It can protect business
at the same time.
If biotech business is known to be corrupt and ends up
hurting consumers, consumers will flee from their
products and withdraw support. the resulting support
could result in economic crisis for the country and
the biotech industry. Please protect the industry and
the consumer from biotechs lust for the mighty dollar.

Sincerely,
Athena Fannin
937-767-2752

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