From: Denise Hendren [mtdesign@northnet.org]
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 10:51 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Cc: action201@sustainableagriculture.net
Subject: Docket No. 00N-1396 & Docket No. 00D-1598

FDA Commissioner, Dockets Management (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane , Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

Dear Commissioner,

I write to you as another consumer concerned about your agencies apparent lack of interest in protecting the population from the unregulated spread of genetically engineered products in the food supply.
 
Your refusal to require mandatory pre-market safety testing of potentially toxic GE foods is an irresponsible position for a regulatory agency to take.  Testing should through and exhaustive with any new addition to the food supply.
 
I also wish to express my deep concern over the lack of an environmental review in the proposed rules.  The FDA is risking the release of potentially dangerous new plant material into the environment without proper oversight.
 
Also, and I believe most importantly, you must require labeling of GE foods.  Not just another bureaucratic dodge and  weave but real labeling!  We have a right to know what is in the foods we purchase and feed to our children as well as what we are consuming as adults.  How could the FDA staff be so calloused as to ignore this simple public right?
 
Finally I wish to express my anger at the proposed "Notification policy", it is in fact no policy at all!!  It appears the FDA has again sold out the health of the American people and the environment for the casual favors of industry.
 
The American people disagree with your "rule" and the rest of the world disagrees with the use of GE foods.  On this issue you have marginalized yourselves and are creating a "rule" at the horror of your own countries citizenry, against the good opinion of world scientists and world population.  Do what is right!

Sam and Denise Hendren