From: Rhona Beitler [rb3shea@hotmail.com] Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2001 7:26 AM To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov To whom it may concern, I am not a scientist, nor am I a person with any background in chemistry or genetics. Quite simply I am a mother of a 12 year old son. That in itself, puts me in a category of being a person who, regardless of their background has to try and do the best job I can to raise him in good health. I am very concerned about the quality of the food he eats, because at his age, and being on the go and grow, what he puts into his body now will affect him in later years. I do not understand why the FDA is taking such a light hearted attitude about the fact that many foods we use in this country are genetically altered. As a parent I do not like the idea of my child eating foods that contain ingredients that are slipped in to save the cost to the food companies that produce the food. If the companies desire to place pesticides in the food that is grown and will later be eaten, then on the package the food comes in, should be a warning - "this food has been genetically altered and contains... "(whatever was put into it.) I try very hard to give him food that is in an unaltered state, but as a working parent there are many times when I do have to rely on packaged foods, canned foods, or frozen foods that I buy at the market. I do not like the idea that some of the products I buy could contain harmful ingredients that are not mentioned on the package. When my son was 4 he had an allergic reaction to a preservative that was placed in food. At FIVE, when we would go to the market he would read the labels and tell me whether or not it was in the food I was buying. At 12, he continues this practice. I want my son to be a healthy person, not one that 25 years down the road will need treatment because nothing was done now to see what harm these, and they can only be described as "secret" ingredients are in his food. It is not up to the food companies to alter what we eat and then not be willing to provide the information. The bottom line is money, it always is, and it not right that children in this country, parents in this country, are being duped to ensure big profits. If the food companies want to alter gentically the produce they grow, it is their right. But as a parent and a consumer it is my right as well to know that they have. sincerely, R. Beitler 807 Leon St. Delta, Co. 81416 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com