From: hills@math.utah.edu
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 3:06 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

As a geneticist and a research scientist, I find the FDAs proposed rules
for genetically engineered foods to be totally unacceptable.  The FDA's
proposal must include the following things if the FDA is acting in the
interest of human life on earth.  

Genetically engineered foods MUST be...
1. Tested for human safety with appropriate scientific controls.
2. Tested for horizontal gene transfer, as in the case of
cross-pollination (although there are a half dozen other mechanisms by
which genes can 'escape' their host).
3. Tested for possible environmental impacts--genetically engineered foods
are as dangerous as the introduction of foreign species.
and  4. Labeled accordingly!!!

The history of the FDAs decisions in the past has been largely in the
interest of corporations.  The four food groups are one painful example
that also happens to be correlated with the US deaths from heart disease
and other coronary and cardiovascular diseases.  It would be far more
humane to err on the side of caution.

Thomas Hills
Dept. of Biology
University of Utah
201 South Biology
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
801-585-5478
hills@math.utah.edu