Mr. Stossel:

I have watched 20/20 in the past because I felt you gave information the way reporters are to give it, in the middle, not one side or the other. But, tonight I have to say I did not see that with your report about food safety. And calling the people names,who are against government measures to try and keep food safe, that was uncalled for.

I myself have looked twice at where my food comes from and have started to only buy locally grown.  I have started growing food myself, because of all the illness with food products. I want to be in control of what I feed my family and friends. I want to know where this food came from and who grew it. Does that make me a person that is out of date, stupid, not informed? No, it makes me a person who wants information about what is best for my family. I question every thing around me unlike other people who take news in hook, line and sinker.

When I started finding out where the food that most stores carry come from and how they zap them, to quote, to keep food safe, unquote. I woke up from my day dreaming world and became a better shopper. I feel that my money goes to the correct places to be able to purchase the best products in my area.

With this new Food Safety Bill being voted on right now. I believe it is the governments attempt to pull us right in under the big government shoe. I want to be able to purchase what I want, where I want to, when I want to and how I want to.

I don't feel it is up to the government to do things to our food with us knowing about it. The last time I checked I live in America. And there are many people that have died for my freedom to be able to say what I want on any subject.

Mr. Stossel, please don't become a person that takes everything in hook, line and sinker. And be a reporter that is down the middle of the road, not one side or the other. I can't say I will watch you anymore because I will watch from time to time to see if you have become the reporter that many people hope for, a fair reporter.

Thank you

It's great that you can grow your own food and purchase from "local growers" whom you know and trust. However, for a large portion of the population (perhaps even the majority), growing their own food and purchasing from local growers is not a possibility. In fact, even if a grower claimed to be local, there would be no way of telling if he/she actually grew the product or simply purchased it for resale. I am completely in support of food safety laws that give us the ability to know more about the food we are buying and ensure testing of our food supplies. I certainly do not have the knowledge nor the means to verify the safety of the food that I am purchasing at my local grocer.

I understand what you are talking about diffies. I too was not informed about the issues of food safety for the most part of my life. Then I started reading labels and asking questions. I remember when you could only get fruits like apples and lemons in the fall or winter when they became ripe. But, with the food coming from all over the world today you can find these in the stores at any season.

I have no way of knowing all the laws of food safety for the countries around the world. I asked myself if I wanted to keep on buying food with blinders on or did I want to take them off. Well, diffies, I took off blinders.

I did live in a city and growing plants was a little hard with no yard to speak of. But, I found a way to do this on the cheap and maybe you can do it too. Buy a bad of top soil, cut drain holes on bottom, stand bag up so it won't fall over, cut 3" above soil line and plant. You can do this with bag laying down. Plants grow great like this and very little water is needed.

I too am in favor of food safety and that is why I grow my own or buy from local growers. Check around your area and you will be able to find some local growers. If you have children you can make it a outing for the family they will learn where the food comes from.

Best wishes to you and yours and good eating