From: Pascopella@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 2:18 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Genetically modified food

Regarding Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598 

I am writing to demand that the FDA require: 
1. labelling of all genetically-modified food; and 
2. rigorous health and ecological safety testing

My training in molecular biology has left me humbled by all that science 
cannot predict when organisms are genetically modified.  The possibilities of 
unknown effects include, but are not limited to:  dysregulation of a global 
regulon, insertional mutagenesis, upregulation of genes responsible for 
potentially toxic gene products, proliferation of antibiotic resistance.  The 
consequences of this great experiment called "genetically modified food" are 
also unpredictable.  Evidence suggests that at least one adverse health 
consequence is allergic reactions, and at least one adverse ecological 
consequence is the death of butterflies. 

And, the fact that StarLink corn managed to "slip into" the human food supply 
is an indictment of the enforcement of the existing regulatory process.  
Clearly the corporations that engineer our food are not to be trusted with 
ensuring our health and safety.  Given that appropriate safety and 
environmental testing has not occurred, genetically modified foods should not 
be in our food supply.  The very least that the FDA can do is to demand 
labelling and testing.

Sincerely,

Lisa Pascopella, PhD, MPH
pascopella@aol.com