From: Walter McGee [wmcgee@wafs.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 5:18 PM
To: 'fdadockets@oc.fda.gov'
Subject: New rules on Genetically Engineered Food

Dear Commissioner Henney,
I understand that the proposed Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
regulations fail to require labels or safety tests on genetically engineered
(GE) food. Allowing these rules to become permanent would be a grave failure
on the part of the FDA to give consumers the tools and information to decide
what they want to put in their bodies. I find this appalling and a complete
abandonment by the FDA of its charge to protect consumers and empower
consumers to protect themselves. These new rules would continue to deny
Americans the right to know what is in our food, while protecting the
economic interests of biotech corporations.
On the other hand, 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,


				Walter McGee
				5176 Golden Gate Avenue
				Oakland, CA 94618