From: Thomas Keenan [grassroots00@earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 3:38 PM
To: EXECSEC
Subject: antibiotics in food chain...

The FDA should move now to establish a system for collecting
basic data on agricultural antibiotic use in the United
States.  The information should be collected for both human
and agricultural use and should include the class,
indication, dosage, and treatment period.

Crop fields sprayed with waste water carry resistant strains of bacteria
and germs into drinking water sources.  Livestock treated (whether they
need it or not - healthy along with sick), help carry resistant
germs/bacteria into our food sources.
And although human over-use is the worse offender, there is a mounting
body of health care providers and professionals who agree that the data
is showing food and water sources as a significant contributor to this
growing problem.  Do we really want to return to the days before
penicillin?  Heaven forbid.  Please do everything in your power to
address this urgent issue and please pass on this need to the new
administration - it is of the utmost importance.  Thank You.


Sincerely,

Thomas D. Keenan
Grass Roots Landscape Design & Maintenance
1415 E. McFarland
Coeur d' Alene, ID 83814

208-667-2715