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See a List of Top Food Companies | Read the list of Potential GE Food Ingredients

 

 

Letter to FDA requesting labeling of genetically engineered food sent by Rep. David Bonior and 48 other members of Congress. Signers are listed below.

November 5, 1999

Commissioner Jane. E. Henney
Food and Drug Administration
Parklawn Building, Room 1471
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857

 

Dear Commissioner Henney:

 

We share your commitment to ensuring that the U.S. food supply is the safest and most reliable in the world, and applaud your good work in that regard. We are, however, deeply concerned about the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) failure to require the labeling of genetically engineered or modified foods. We are respectfully asking that the FDA reverse its course and require the labeling of these foods.

 

We believe that the labeling provisions of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), which are intended to ensure that consumers are provided thorough information and are not misled about the characteristics of their food, require the FDA to label genetically engineered or modified foods. We therefore believe the current FDA policy regarding genetically engineered or modified foods is flawed. Without labeling and ensuring the right-to-know, consumers' interests are not adequately protected.

 

As you may know, there is overwhelming public support for the labeling of these food products. Despite a Time magazine poll showing that 81% of Americans want genetically engineered or modified foods labeled, the biotechnology industry and the FDA have kept these foods on the shelf without labeling or mandatory pre-market safety testing. It is particularly disconcerting that the effect of recombining the DNA for nearly 70% of all foods in U.S. stores is essentially unknown. The failure of the FDA to require labeling withholds vital information from consumers and is contrary to the intent and scope of the FDCA.

 

With these thoughts in mind, we again respectfully ask the FDA to reverse its course of action and institute requirements for the labeling of all genetically engineered and modified foods as required by current statute.

 

Thank you for your attention to this important food safety and consumer protection matter. We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Robert E. Andrews (D-NJ)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
David E. Bonier (D-MI)
Michael Capuano (D-MA)

William Clay (D-MO)
John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI)
Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR)

William Delahunt (D-MA)
Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Mike Doyle (D-PA)
Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Barney Frank (D-MA)
Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD)
Benjamin A. Gilman (R-NY)
Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (D-MI)
Jerry Kleczka (D-WI)
Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH)
Tom Lantos (D-CA)
John Lewis (D-GA)
William O. Lipinski (D-IL)
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
James H. Maloney (D-CT)
Edward J. Markey (D-MA)
Matthew G. Martinez (D-CA)
Frank R. Mascara (D-PA)
Jim McDermott (D-WI)
James P. McGovern (D-MA)
Marty Meehan (D-MA)
Jack Metcalf (R-WA)
George Miller (D-CA)
Patsy T. Mink (D-HI)
Jarrold Nadler (D-NY)
John W. Olver (D-MA)
Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)
Lynn Rivers (D-MI)
Steven R. Rothman (D-NJ)
Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL)
Christopher Shays (R-CT)
Fortney Stark (D-CA)
Mike Thompson (D-CA)
Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH)
Tom Udall (D-NM)
Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Anthony David Weiner (D-NY)
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)

Back to Safer Food, Safer Farms Index | Read the Press Release For the Letter to the FDA See a List of Top Food Companies | Read the list of Potential GE Food Ingredients