Friend??!!

In January, I wrote to the White House to complain about USDA's approval of genetically modified soybeans. The soybeans, which are "created" by Monsanto and DuPont, are genetically modified by using a technique called "gene silencing".
These chemical companies wanted to lower the quantitiy of the trans fat in soybeans and have engineered seeds to contain healthier oils.
90% of the soybean crop is already modified. They have been altered to have a higher disease resistance or weed killer resistance, but this is a new territory. This opens up a new frontier for the chemical companies. They are altering the nutritional value of food! If you've never eaten a soybean in your life, you are still effected! Your food is eating or being fertilized with genetically altered food products!!
This seems very wrong to me. I do not have the power of a lobbiest. I am only one voice, but I am not afraid to use it. So, I did. I copied the response, below.
If you feel strongly about Genetically Modified crops, I would encourage you to let the President know how you feel by filling in the contact form at this link:
White House Contact
I don't even want to tell you how I feel about the guy calling me "friend". What happened to "fellow American"? Or "concerned American"?

March 22, 2011

Dear Friend: Thank you for writing.  President Obama has heard from many Americans about the security and safety of our Nation's food supply, and we want to make sure you are aware of some relevant information about this important issue. Across our country, Americans are working hard to make healthy choices for themselves and their families, and our Government has a responsibility to ensure the foods we produce and consume are safe.  In March 2009, President Obama announced the creation of a new Food Safety Working Group, chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture, to advise him on a modernized and public health-focused approach to food safety. To further upgrade our food safety system, on January 4, 2011, President Obama was proud to sign into law the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, giving our country critically important new tools to protect our food supply and consumers.  This legislation introduces sweeping improvements to our food system by ensuring more frequent inspections of food manufacturing facilities and requiring these facilities to take preventative actions to reduce the risks of outbreaks and foodborne illness.  Here are some more resources on the security of our food supply that you may find helpful: Up-to-date information on food recalls:  www.FoodSafety.gov Additional food safety resources:  www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety White House Blog entry on the Food Safety Modernization Act:  WhiteHouse.gov/crz Key facts and information about the Food Safety Modernization Act:  go.usa.gov/YAz More information about the Food Safety Working Group:  www.FoodSafetyWorkingGroup.gov United States Department of Agriculture website:  www.usda.gov Thank you, again, for writing.  President Obama is grateful to hear from thousands of Americans each day, and we appreciate your taking the time to contact the White House. Sincerely, The White House