From: Riparian7@earthlink.net
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2001 6:30 PM
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.


On behalf of my family and millions of others, get this stuff labeled A.S.A.P. The additional cost of labeling is worth the time and money if it informs the public ! 
Lastly, how dare you include GM material in our food without telling us or listing it in the ingredients. Many people feel lied to and deprived of information over this issue. It's high time steps were taked to correct this oversight immediatly ! 


Sincerely

Stephen Allen
240 Watson Drive #4
Campbell, California 95008