From: PUZOO@aol.com
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 11:39 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

    I am writing to ask that you insist that genetically engineered foods be 
labeled as such.  You have a responsibility to give the public the right to 
choose and to "vote" with our pocketbook.  I do not think the proposed 
pre-marketing safeguards are sufficient to ensure the public health and 
environmental protection.  I understand these are debatable.  Although I try 
to be an informed consumer, the issues are too complex for me to determine 
what is safe.  As a result, our family has decided that we will attempt to 
avoid the national experiment with genetically engineered foods.  
    We merely ask that you give us an opportunity to decide for ourselves by 
appropriately labeling.  This would be in keeping with the USDA's past 
efforts to provide nutritional value and lists of ingredients to consumers.  
We are asking for information not regulation.  
Thank you for your consideration.
Steven Pugh, Ph.D.
Loretta Arvizu, R.N.