1 November 2, 2013 Representative Devin Nunes 1013 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative Devin

Nunes: I am writing in support of H.R.1699, cited as the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act, sponsored by Representative Peter A. DeFazio.1 H.R.1699 will require disclosure of genetically engineered food on food labels as an amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.2 As a student member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and a future registered dietitian, also as a consumer who lives in Visalia, I would like to bring to your attention this important amendment. Due to my involvement in the area of food and nutrition, questions of food safety and its effects on health are my major concerns. In addition, as a nutritional expert I will have a critical role in the nutrition education of my community regarding issues involving the quality of food and its safety. This is also a major priority area of public policy of AND.3 Since you are a member of subcommittee on Health of the Ways and Means Committee, I think we share a common interest in the health and nutrition of people in Tulare County. H.R.1699 will extend the labeling law requirements of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to genetically engineered food. This means consumers will be able to know if the food has been genetically engineered from reading a label. This is important because there is a risk of allergenicity from engineered foods. The necessity for case-by-case assessment of allergenicity with each new genetically engineered food has been pointed out due to the new combinations of genes and their interaction.4 I support development of genetically modified foods. Dramatic improvements have been made in the nutritional value of agricultural products using this technology such as rice with improved vitamin and mineral contents,5 and vegetable oil with unique fatty acid composition which results in less trans fat formation after cooking.6 The information about genetically engineered food on the food label helps consumers make an informed decision. As a constituent in your district, I urge you to join (1) your fellow local farmers who support this legislation and (2) Republican Representative Don Young of Alaska and your fellow California state Democratic representatives Anna Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren who sponsored this legislation. Please vote yes on H.R.1699. Please contact me if you have any questions or if there is any way I can assist you. I appreciate your time and consideration. Thank you. Sincerely, Kayoko Zahn 1234 Raisin Place Bread Basket, CA 99999

2 References 1. U.S. House of Representatives. Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act. H.R.1699. 113th Cong. 2013. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c113:H.R.1699:. Accessed October 27, 2013. 2. US Food and Drug Administration. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. 1938. http://www.fda.gov/regulatoryinformation/legislation/federalfooddrugandcosmeticactfdcact/defa ult.htm. Accessed October 27, 2013. 3. 2012-2015 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Public Policy Priority Areas. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Web site. http://www.eatright.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442469552. Accessed October 27, 2013. 4. Goodman RE, et al. Allergenicity assessment of genetically modified crops--what makes sense? Nat Biotechnol. 2008;26(1):73-81. 5. Bhullar NK, Gruissem W. Nutritional enhancement of rice for human health: the contribution of biotechnology. Biotechnol Adv. 2013;31(1):50-7. 6. Menaa F, Menaa A, Trton J, Menaa B. Technological approaches to minimize industrial trans fatty acids in foods. J Food Sci. 2013;78(3):377-86