From: trishsherbs@pikeonline.net
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2001 11:33 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.


In our quest to make processes simpler and more stream lined with consumer profit as a underlying motivator, I believe we miss the all to important basics of natural law.  Good bottom line business moves does not equate to good for your health and those who you love.  Please lets rethink our stratagies in all areas to insure that our bottom line goals include what is good for all not just a few or the makers of the proposed change.


Sincerely

Patricia Cornish
317 Pocono Ranchlands
Bushkill, Pennsylvania 18324