Action Alert!

FDA Fails To Require Labeling of GE Foods

Food First 25jan01

Last week, in the final days of the Clinton administration, the FDA submitted its long awaited policy on genetically engineered foods. The policy, which was originally proposed in May of 2000, will not require labeling of genetically engineered food, nor will it require mandatory pre-market safety testing of genetically engineered products. Instead, the FDA encouraged voluntary labeling of biotech products, requiring only that biotech food producers engage in "consultations" with the FDA in which they submit information on their products. The information must be submitted to the FDA within 120 days of marketing, and will be made available to the public.

"This is a major disappointment for consumers, farmers and environmentalists who were hoping that our regulatory agencies would finally take a real stand," said Dr. Peter Rosset, Co-director of Food First/The Institute for Food and Development Policy, based in Oakland, CA.

"Despite a PR offensive claiming that government regulators are finally taking GE foods seriously, closer examination reveals this to be a hollow claim," said Rosset. "These rules, if they can be called that, are not nearly as tough as those for food additives. In reality the FDA is providing industry with a thinly disguised whitewash."

The FDA's new rules ignore not only the concerns of environmental, family farm and consumer groups, but also overlook the recommendations made by the Biotechnology Consultative Forum. In a report released in December of 2000, the BCF, an international panel of experts who represent both sides of the biotech debate, advised the Clinton administration to require mandatory labeling of GE foods in order to protect consumers' right to informed choices about what they eat.

"The proposed rules appear to provide a security blanket to the biotech industry at the expense of public health, the environment, and the few businesses that choose not to use GE foods," said Ms. Anuradha Mittal, also Co Director at Food First. Companies that label their foods as GE-free must bear the cost of labeling, and must verify their claims through chain of custody documentation, test results, or be certified organic, while who do use GE ingredients face no such hurdles.

"It is critical that informed citizens make their voices heard at the FDA," said Ms. Mittal. "In the past we reversed poor organic standards from the USDA," she added. "Now it is time to let the FDA know what we think," she said, in reference to the highly successful letter writing campaign during the USDA public comment period which reversed that agency's position.

Take Action!

The FDA is allowing for an open commentary period until April 3, 2001. Write to FDA Commissioner Jane Henney and tell her that the new policy is insufficient. Tell her you are disappointed that the FDA continues to ignore the safety concerns of consumers and chooses instead to help the companies developing biotech products. Demand that she change the policy on GMO food to one that protects the rights of the consumer. A sample letter follows.

Send your e-mails to fdadockets@oc.fda.gov , subject re: dockets . 00N-1396 and 00D-1598, or write to:

FDA Commissioner Jane Henney
Dockets Management Branch (HFA 305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 FisherÇs Lane, rm. 1061
Rockville MD 20852

For the full text of the FDA rules, visit: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/ohrms/advdisplay.cfm

For more information about issues surrounding biotechnology, see Food First's website at: http://www.foodfirst.org/progs/global/biotech

Sample Letter:

Dear Commissioner Henney,

The proposed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations fail to require labels or safety tests on genetically engineered (GE) food. The new rules continue to deny Americans the right to know what is in our food, while protecting the economic interests of biotech corporations.

Labeling GE foods would protect the public from potential health effects that could only be traced if GE foods can be identified. By refusing to require both labeling and mandatory safety testing of foods, the FDA puts consumer's health at risk, and ignores the recommendations of the Biotechnology Consultative Forum, who in December urged the US to require mandatory labeling of GE foods.

I urge you to reconsider this proposal and insure that GE foods are subject to pre-market testing and labeling. Americans have a right to make informed decisions about the food we consume.

Sincerely,

Join the fight against hunger. For more information contact foodfirst@foodfirst.org .

 --- "Personally, I distrust everything that comes from NGIN" Alex Avery, Hudson Institute, 18 Jan 2001