From: Beverly F Porzelt [bfporzelt@juno.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 12:28 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

I don't want genetically engineered food ever! What is the point? Money?
You must require complete labelling and complete testing on these
products if we allow them at all. I find it outrageous that anything less
would even be considered. I will inform everyone I know of the situation.
I find it very disturbing that a government agency that I thought was
here to protect us could, for one second, entertain these possibilities. 

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.

 >  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.

 >  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.

 >  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.