From: Center for Food Safety [action@foodsafetynow.org]
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 4:06 PM
To: FDA Commissioner
Cc: president@whitehouse.gov; vice.president@whitehouse.gov;
fdadockets@oc.fda.gov; fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Oppose the New FDA Regulations on GE Foods!

FDA Commissioner 
Dockets Management Branch (HFA 305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fisher's Lane, rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

RE: Docket No. 00N-1396, and 00D-1598

Dear FDA,
 
I am deeply concerned about the new policies on genetically engineered 
 (GE)foods. Despite repeated consumer requests that GE foods be clearly 
identifiable, the FDA has, as repeatedly, failed to require safety testing 
and mandatory labeling for GE foods without justification.

If, as is to be ascertained by the lack of action by the FDA, GE is 
perfectly safe, in both the short and the long term, to consumers and, as 
inaction also indicates, poses no hazard to the environment (it should be 
clear that this also entails a safe environment in which crops/seeds/soil 
will not become abortive) then it is reasonable to either (a) state these 
assumptions in a clear and unambivalent manner, or (b) state that the 
results of testing is inconclusive and the consumer should take this unto 
consideration when purchasing a food item.

In light of the fact that many assert that there is strong scientific 
evidence of numerous potential health and environmental risks to GE foods 
and that these foods could be toxic, could cause allergic responses, could 
have lower nutrition value, could compromise immune responses in 
consumers, and could cause irreparable damage to the environment, it is 
only prudent and even moral that consumers be allowed to make personal but 
informed decisions.  I, myself, have some very strong misgivings about the 
'new' GE bananas.

It may sound outrageous, but the new pulp of the banana, the rapidity with 
which they spoil, the terrible and unnatural flavor of them all raises 
questions about how they differ from 'real' bananas on a much more serious 
level.  Indeed, I shy from feeding my children (who are very young)too 
much of any one fruit but I particularly avoid the bananas because I 
simply do not know what their effects might be.  Again, if you and your 
agency believe that there is no risk posed to consumers, why not simply 
make that an explicit position of the FDA and require manufactureres to 
lable their GE products as such?  Your hesitancy to clear the matter is 
the culprit of public mistrust.  

By continuing to appear to ignore, rather than disclaim, serious concerns, 
and stay in line with rules that benefit industrial insiders at the 
expense of public health and the environment, you (i.e. the FDA) undermine 
the public trust in any official position of the FDA. 

I am sorry, but my very nature (unaltered since conception)cannot 
ignorantly accept any attempt to make me a guinea pig of these untested 
foods.  I do thoughtfully request and, in fact, trust you will take these 
concerns of mine, and my children -- although they don't know it -- along 
with those of others, into serious consideration.  Afterall, if full 
disclosure is required for the selling of a home, a used car, etc., 
shouldn't full disclosure also be a condition of selling modified food?  
Not everyone buys a home or drives a car but everyone, and that is 
EVERYONE, must eat food.

Sincerely,
Christina Suthammanont

Christina Suthammanont
124 Sherman Place
Jersey City, NJ, 07307

CC: 
The President
Vice President Dick Cheney
FDA Dockets Management [Docket No. 00N-1396]
Senator Robert Torricelli
Senator Jon Corzine
Representative Steven R. Rothman
Representative Robert MenendezFDA Dockets Management [Docket No. 00D-1598]

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___________________________________________________________________________
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