p>WASHINGTON, May 3, 2000-Consumer and environmental protection appear to have taken a back seat to the interests of the biotechnology industry in the Food and Drug Administration's new proposal on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

"These regulations amount to an outrageous betrayal of the American people's trust in the government's oversight of our food supply," said Charles Margulis of Greenpeace. "Con-sumers have repeatedly told FDA they want to know what they are eating, but FDA is telling industry that if they want to keep GMO foods a secret, that's no problem."

FDA has briefed industry on its new proposal on GMO food, which will include no required pre-market safety testing or labeling of GMO foods, according to press reports. Instead, the major substantive change will be to make mandatory the agency's current system under which biotech companies voluntarily conduct an unscientific process intended to show that their biotech foods are "equivalent" to natural counterparts.

Moreover, the FDA proposal undermines consumer choice by making it more difficult for food companies that avoid using GMO crops to inform consumers that their products are GMO-free.

"If you run a responsible food company that avoids genetically modified ingredients, FDA will make you jump through all kinds of hoops to inform your customers of that," added Margulis. "But if your company wants to hide its secret ingredient from consumers, the FDA says, 'fine.'"

In 1992, FDA proposed guidelines for biotech foods that have never been finalized as agency rules. Doctors and scientists have criticized FDA's approach as "pseudo science" that allows industry to put GMO foods on the market without testing the foods for potential health or environmental problems. For example, doctors warn that genetically engineered foods could result in problems with allergies, elevated levels of toxins in food, and antibiotic resistance. The distinguished medical journal, The Lancet, said last year, "It is astounding that FDA has not changed their stance on genetically modified food.. Governments should never have allowed these products into the food chain without insisting on rigorous testing for effects on health."

"There is no scientific justification for keeping information from American consumers," said Margulis. "FDA is simply playing politics with our food. The agency is putting the interests of a few biotech companies ahead of millions of Americans who want these foods labeled."

CONTACT:

Charles Margulis, Greenpeace, (202) 258-3029 (mobile);

Craig Culp, Greenpeace, (202) 319-2461, (202) 251-6296 (mobile);

Andrew Kimbrell, counsel and director of Center for Food Safety, (202) 547-9359.

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