From: E.M.Egli@telus.net
Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2001 11:37 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: What's in your food? (FDA Dockets 00N-1396 and 00D-1598)


Dear Corporate and Government Leaders,

Neither government nor industry is protecting Americans from the risks posed to human health and the environment by genetically engineered (GE) foods. The Food and Drug Administration's "new" policy on GE foods (proposed January 18, 2001) continues to let the biotech industry regulate itself; it fails to require the long-term, pre-market safety testing demanded by independent experts. The "voluntary labeling" guidelines are a wholly inadequate response to the overwhelming public support for mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. Therefore, I urge you to keep all genetically engineered ingredients and crops off the market unless:

1) Independent safety testing demonstrates they have no harmful effects on human health or the environment, 

2) They are labeled to ensure the consumer's right-to-know, and 

3) The biotechnology corporations that manufacture them are held accountable for any harms they may cause.


The reckless interferene of the use of genetically engineered food ingredients and years of misuse of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides will eventually cause a whole generation of people with alergies and chemical related illnesses that unfortunately will only benefit the likes of GlaxoWellcome, Pfizer and various other drug companies.  Greed can be the only reason for Monsanto and Dow Chemical to persuade farmers to use their products.

Farmers should unite and refuse to be intimadated into using these products.  Consumers' health is at risk and I personally as a consumer do not wish to eat products that are grown utilizing such chemicals.  Old-fashioned cow-manure and good farming practices worked in the past and can continue to do so in the future without risk to our generation the next generation.  It also serves as creating employment.  The farmer should receive more for his product before it goes to market.  Why should Monsanto et al profit? 

Prevention is the only answer.  I am against any chemical fertilizers or pesticides being used in my food.  

Edna M. Egl


Sincerely

Edna Egli
201 - 621 West 57th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia V6P 6P5