From: R K Longstroth [arcael@earthlink.net]
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 1:04 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

I, in the interest food that 'tastes and feels and looks' like the food
I grew up eating; appeal to you to stop all genetic altering of the food
I am able to buy to eat.  Food should be able to decay.  It is essential
to it being able to be digested and assimilated...growing food that does
not break down sitting on my counter, is growing food that is not going
to break down in my digestive track.  An apple may as well be plastic if
it is designed not to follow nature.  Don't put fish in my tomatoes.

It is a crime to have allowed our food to be disorganized as it has
through gene alteration. 

I call for the FDA to pay attention to leading scientists who have
strong reservations to the continued proliferation of Genetic
Engineering of our food supply without significant relevant safety
testing

Pleas make these rules:

* Mandatory pre-market safety testing
* Require pre-market environmental review
* Require mandatory labeling of GE foods
* Allow voluntary labeling of non-GE foods
* Require a mere letter of notification prior to the 
  marketing of a GE food
* Ensure public access to adequate information 
  for independent review
* Are supported by consumer groups

_______________

* 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.

* 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.


Randal Longstroth
arcael@earthlink.net
Salt Lake City, UT
801-322-1977