From: Germán Herrera [losatl@infoasis.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2001 2:55 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: dockets 00N-1396 and 00D-1598
Dear Commissioner Henney,
The proposed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations fail to
require labels or safety tests on genetically engineered (GE) food. The
new rules continue to deny Americans the right to know what is in our
food, while protecting the economic interests of biotech corporations.
Additionally, the rules discourage the use of labels such as
"biotech free" or "no genetically engineered ingredients", labels
which consumers have a fundamental right to have printed on their food
products.
Labeling GE foods would protect the public from potential health effects
that could only be traced if GE foods can be identified. By refusing to
require both labeling and mandatory safety testing of foods, the FDA
puts consumer's health at risk, and ignores the recommendations of the
Biotechnology Consultative Forum, who in December urged the US to
require mandatory labeling of GE foods.
I urge you to reconsider this proposal and insure that GE foods are
subject to pre-market testing and labeling. Americans have a right to
make informed decisions about the food we consume.
Sincerely,

--Germán Herrera
65c miraflores ave.
san rafael.ca 94901