STATEMENT OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD ALERT

Consumer, Health and Environmental Groups Ask Clinton to Investigate FDA, Keep Engineered Foods off the Market
FDA admission of inability to test for genetically engineered ingredients in foods prompts groups' demands

The following letter was sent to President Clinton by the Genetically Engineered Food Alert today

September 26, 2000

The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Re: Kraft Recall of Taco Shells and Genetically Engineered Food

Dear President Clinton:

Last week Kraft recalled its taco shells following a report from the Genetically Engineered Food Alert coalition that these shells contain a genetically engineered ingredient not approved for human consumption. We are writing to seek a meeting with you on this urgent matter and to request that the Administration take some immediate steps to insure that the Food and Drug Administration is doing enough to safeguard our food supply from contaminants.

The FDA displayed a troublingly slow response to the news of adulterated food. On the same day that Kraft Foods confirmed our report of illegal contamination with their own test results and announced a recall, FDA had just taken the step of writing us to request a portion of the taco shell sample we had tested. The serious breach of consumer confidence that resulted from contaminated corn was only exacerbated, demonstrating inadequate oversight and attention to a serious matter of public health.

In a conversation with Bob Lake, head of the FDA investigation, we learned that the agency spent time last week trying to develop its own test for the presence of Cry9C corn, the contaminant found in taco shells distributed by Kraft, because they have not had the capability to date. This was reconfirmed in the Los Angeles Times yesterday, where FDA biotech coordinator Jim Maryanski is quoted as saying, "It's certainly the first time we've had a reason to run tests on a corn product produced through bioengineering." The article adds that Maryanski said, "the FDA's labs can test for specific DNA only in crops, not in processed food."

Cry9C corn is not approved for human consumption by the EPA because of potential adverse human health effects. The FDA is required by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to guard the safety of the American food supply against ingredients like this. The agency could not have been doing this important job without a test for Cry9C.

The members of GE Food Alert believe that the FDA has embraced engineered foods too enthusiastically. The agency position on genetically engineered foods is that they are "substantially equivalent" to naturally occurring foods and therefore do not require labeling or safety testing. Ironically, the corporations seeking patents on engineered foods say that their inventions are substantially different.

We respectfully request that your Administration act quickly to protect the public and its confidence in the safety of our food supply. Until it is clear that agency officials know what they are doing with respect to these new, potentially dangerous genetically engineered foods, the FDA should not allow these foods on the market. The agency must be equipped with the means to conduct adequate pre-market safety and environmental testing, should implement mandatory labeling of genetically engineered food to ensure consumers¹ right to know what is in their food, and should establish biotech corporate liability for any harm to health or the environment.

In addition, we understand that the EPA pledged to revoke the registration of StarLink corn if Taco Bell taco shells sold in grocery stores were found to contain this variety of engineered corn unapproved for human consumption. EPA officials have backpedaled on this commitment, now saying that they are only considering revoking the registration.

We would like to discuss this matter with you as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Joseph Mendelson, Legal Director
The Center for Food Safety

Brent Blackwelder, President
Friends of the Earth

Mark Ritchie, President
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Tom Wathen, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
National Environmental Trust

Ronnie Cummins, Director
Organic Consumers Association

Wendy Wendlandt, National Political Director
The State PIRG

cc: Jane Henney
Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration