From: JoAnne Wilkins [jswilkins@lisco.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 10:24 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: MANDATORY LABELING OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS!!!!!!!!

Dear FDA, 
I want you to know that I only purchase organic foods since learning about the genetically engineered foods that are allowed in our food system without anyone's knowledge. While the best solution would be to eliminate genetically engineered foods all together, at the very least THEY MUST BE LABELED. In addition, they must be tested -- it is the poorest segment of our population that will suffer because they do not have the means to purchase organic produce (I estimate my food bill has doubled since going to entirely organic foods, which is the only way I can be sure that the foods are NOT genetically engineered).
I therefore request that:
* 
 
The 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 and irreparable damage.

* The 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.

* The 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 needed to hold 
  food producers liable should any of these novel products 
  be hazardous.
Sincerely,
JoAnne, Mark, Ben, Newlin and Tahra Wilkins
* The FDA must end its cozy relationship with the industries
  it purports to be regulating. People have been allowed to 
  work for a biotech company, then work for the FDA writing the 
  regulatory rules on that company's product, then go back to
  working for the company.  Ninety-two percent of FDA advisory 
  committee meetings had at least one conflict of interest.