From: ALombard@carat-na.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 5:29 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Cc: lissa@mac.com
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

Dear FDA,

I am writing this message because, despite overwhelming consumer
demand, the FDA has failed to require health and ecological safety testing
or mandatory
labeling, and thus puts the health and environment of all Americans at risk
and deprives
citizens of the right to know or choose what we are eating.

I urge the following:

* FDA must require mandatory pre-market comprehensive environmental review.
Unlike conventional pollutants, where a given amount of pollutant causes a
limited amount of damage, a small number of mutant genes could have a
population explosion and reproduce forever, causing unlimited irreparable
damage.

* FDA must require mandatory pre-market long-term health testing.
GE products could be toxic, cause allergic responses, have lower
nutritional
value, and compromise immune responses in consumers.

* FDA must require mandatory labeling of GE products. Without mandatory
labeling, neither consumers nor health professionals will know if an
allergic or toxic reaction was the result of a genetically engineered food.
Consumers would be deprived of the critical knowledge they need to hold
producers liable should any of these novel products be hazardous.

* FDA must end its cozy relationship with industries it purports to be
regulating. People have been allowed to work for a biotech company, then
work
for FDA writing the regulatory rules on that company's product, then go
back to
working for the company.  92% of FDA advisory committee meetings had at
least
one conflict of interest.

Sincerely,

Amanda Moffat-Lombard
Senior Program Manager, Performance Marketing
Carat Interactive
360 Newbury Street
Boston, MA  02115

Tel: (617) 449-4219
Fax: (617) 449-4200
E-m: alombard@carat-na.com
www.caratinteractive.com

Those who cast the votes decide nothing;
Those who count the votes decide everything.

-- Joseph Stalin