To: Frito Lay (consumer.affairs@fritolay.com)

As a scientist, I am appalled at the Frito-Lay's decision to not use
genetically engineered corn in its products.

I expect companies to make the utmost use of science to ensure the quality
and integrity of its products. Companies that cater to hysteria from  fringe
groups cannot have the best interest of the consumers at heart.  Actions
such as that by Frito Lay inevitably delay the development and
implementation of biotechnology, which in turn promotes current levels of
pesticide use in the environment, and makes it more difficult to address
issues of world hunger and environmental degradation.

The real scientific data have not supported any hazard from those
engineered crops that have made it through the regulatory system in the  USA
or elsewhere. The data do show that engineered corn can have lower  levels
of toxins from naturally occurring fungal contaminants. Thus, by  publicly
denouncing the GM corn, you are willingly selling a product that  is
less-safer!

Hence, I must insist that Frito Lay publicly reverse its decision that you
would not use genetically engineered corn, acknowledge the role of sound
science in protecting the integrity of your products, and guarantee that
your corporate policies embrace every technology available- including
biotechnology- to help protect the environment and the world's  agricultural
resources.

No responsible scientist can endorse, support, purchase, or otherwise
patronize products from a company that does not respect science and the
scientific method, and hence implements decisions that do not contribute  to
global well-being. Finally, we scientists have learned a lot from the
anti-GMO movement, and plan to be equally effective in getting our message
across. In addition, we will use the our professional societies, and our
students to get the message across.

Frito-Lay, we expect you to act with social responsibility. We strongly
suggest that you please retract your decision -to not use genetically
engineered corn-immediately.

Best wishes,

Yours,


Wayne Parrott
Dept of Crop & Soil Sciences
The University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-7272
Phone (706) 542-0928, FAX (706) 542-0914
Http://www.cropsoil.uga.edu/~parrottlab