From: jessine [jessinef@cs.com]
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2001 7:45 PM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: DOCKET NUMBER : 98P-0151/CP1

RE: DOCKET NUMBER : 98P-0151/CP1

I urge the Food and Drug Administration to grant petition 98P-0151/CP1 to
prohibit the slaughter of downed animals.  Downed animals are frequently
dragged to slaughter, or abandoned to die slowly from neglect at stockyards
across the country.

Animals which are too sick or injured to stand should not be in the human
food chain.  In addition to posing an increased risk for bacterial
contamination, there is evidence that some downed animals may be afflicted
with a form of "Mad Cow Disease," a disease which has been linked to a fatal
human illness.

Industry experts have estimated that 90% percent of downed animals can be
prevented with better care and handling. Removing the market for downed
animals will provide an incentive to industry to prevent downed animals in
the first place.

Downed animals comprise a very small percentage of animals slaughtered, and
prohibiting their marketing will cause no undue economic hardship.

Thank you for your time,

Jessine Foss
Oakland, CA