From: Allison King [aking@ucg.com]
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 9:48 AM
To: 'fdadockets@oc.fda.gov'
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

The FDA must require mandatory pre-market comprehensive environmental
review. Once genetically engineered genes are in the environment, they are
in the environment forever. If those genes cause damage to the environment
it is unlimited and irreparable.
 
The FDA must require mandatory pre-market long-term health testing.
Genetically engineered (GE) products could be toxic, cause allergic
responses, have lower nutritional value, and compromise immune responses in
consumers. As consumers we have a right to know what the long-term effects
are of what we are putting in our bodies.

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. And again, as consumers, we
have the right to know and the right to decide whether or not we want to
consume GE products.

Because the FDA did not require labelling of dairy products that were from
cows injected with genetically engineered bovine growth hormone, many
consumers including myself have stopped purchasing the products and only buy
organic products. 

The FDA is risking the health of people and the environment by allowing the
biotech companies to continue to create the GE products without testing or
labelling all in the name of profit.

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.