Send an e-mail to the Deputy Commissioner of the FDA, Lester M. Crawford

The Food and Drug Administration took the highly unusual step of meddling in a state’s electoral process in early October, telling Oregon it opposes the labeling of genetically engineered foods. Oregon voters will decide on November 5 whether to pass Measure 27, the first statewide genetically engineered foods labeling initiative in the nation.

Lester Crawford, the deputy director of the FDA, wrote Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, explaining that “FDA's scientific judgment is that there is no significant difference between foods produced using bioengineering, as a class, and their conventional counterparts.”

The Campaign joins many other organizations, scientists and ecologists in criticizing the FDA for its simplistic and industry-friendly approach to the regulation of genetically engineered foods.

Scientists say that genetically altered foods may create novel proteins not encountered by humans before. Genetically engineered foods also contain antibiotic gene markers, which may reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics. Also, some genetically engineered crops such as corn are designed to contain pesticides in every one of their cells.

Learn more about the FDA cover up of genetically engineered food safety at the Alliance for Biointegrity web site, www.bio-integrity.org.

Send an e-mail to the FDA, urging them to label genetically engineered foods!

Do you want to learn more about Deputy Commissioner Lester Crawford? Click here for his biography.

Posted below is the letter that Lester Crawford sent to Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber:

October 4, 2002,

Dear Governor Kitzhaber:

This letter explains why FDA objects to the pending ballot initiative to require the mandatory labeling of foods and food additives produced using genetic engineering sold in Oregon, or produced in Oregon and shipped to other states. In brief, FDA's scientific judgement is that there is no significant difference between foods produced using bioengineering, as a class, and their conventional counterparts. (By "genetic engineering," we refer to foods produced using recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) technology and not traditional breeding techniques; this technology is also referred to as "bioengineering" or "biotechnology.") Further, FDA's scientific evaluation of bioengineered foods continues to show that these foods, as currently marketed in the United States, are as safe as their conventional counterparts. Moreover, mandatory labeling to disclose that a product was produced through genetic engineering does not promote the public health in that it fails to provide material facts concerning the safety or nutritional aspects of food and may be misleading to consumers.

Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act ("the FD&C Act"), FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety of the nation's food supply, ensuring that food labeling is truthful and not misleading, and for regulating food additives. 21 U.S.C. S 321, et. seq. Foods and food ingredients produced using bioengineering must adhere to the same safety and labeling standards under the FD&C Act as their conventionally bred counterparts. FDA is not aware of any information or data that would suggest that any genetically engineered foods that have been allowed for human use are not as safe as conventional foods.

After numerous meetings and public comments on this issue, FDA concluded that a safety assessment of any new food should focus on the traits and characteristics of that food, no matter which techniques (traditional breeding or genetic engineering) were used to develop the food. Food produced via bioengineering should be treated just like its conventional counterparts because, from a scientific standpoint, there is no evidence that these foods differ as a class from traditionally bred foods in any meaningful or uniform way. Nor is there evidence that, as a class, foods developed by rDNA breeding techniques present any different or greater safety concerns than foods developed via traditional breeding. FDA's scientific evaluation to date has shown that the substances added to food via bioengineering have been well-characterized proteins that are functionally very similar to other proteins that are commonly and safely consumed in the diet every day.

FDA has previously concluded that requiring mandatory labeling for bioengineered foods is not scientifically or legally warranted. Rather, the labeling for foods produced using bioengineering must comply with the law applying to the labeling for all foods. Among other things, food labeling must reveal all facts that are material in light of representation made in the labeling or in light of consequences that may result from the use of foods. 21 U.S.C. S 321(n).

For example, FDA would consider mandatory labeling where:
the food is significantly different from its traditional counterpart, such that the common or usual name no longer adequately describes the new food - FDA has required labeling for two foods (a soy oil and a canola oil) where the fatty acid composition was changed to mimic that of food oils not associated with the modified plant;
an issue exists for the food or a constituent of the food regarding how the food is used or consequences of its use;
the food has significantly different nutritional properties; or
a new food includes an allergen that consumers would not expect to be present in the food based on the food's name.
Accordingly, the proposed legislation for mandatory labeling of foods produced using bioengineering would be contrary to FDA's position that the use of bioengineering, standing alone, is not a material fact that requires disclosure in food labeling. Moreover, as is summarized above, and described in more detail in FDA's public notices cited above, mandatory labeling of bioengineered foods is contrary to the science that currently shows no significant difference between foods produced using bioengineering and their conventional counterparts.

Moreover, the proposed legislation would impermissibly interfere with manufacturers' ability to market their products on a nationwide basis. If passed, manufacturers producing products in Oregon or manufacturers selling products in Oregon produced in another state would be required to create special labeling to comply with Oregon law - labeling not required by FDA or other states. Thus, as a practical matter, the Oregon law would require different labels for different states impeding the free flow of commerce between the states.

We hope you find these views useful.

Sincerely,

Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Deputy Commissioner