From: Calder Martin [cmartin.interport@rcn.com]
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 12:08 PM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: DOCKET NUMBER: 98P-0151/CP1

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
>Dockets Management Branch
>5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
>Rockville, MD 20852
>FAX: 301-827-6870
>E-mail: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov (oc.fda.gov)
>
>RE: DOCKET NUMBER: 98P-0151/CP1
>
>With the increasing problem of contamination of our food sources and mad
>cow disease, I request the FDA create and enforce regulations forbidding
>the sale of sick and downed animals and mandate their prompt and humane
>euthanization by a licensed DVM for the following reasons:
>
>1: Animals who are too sick or injured even to stand should not be
> allowed to enter the human food chain.
>
>2: In addition to posing an increased risk for bacterial contamination,
>there is evidence that some downed animals may be afflicted with a form
>of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or"Mad Cow Disease"), a disease
>which has been linked to a fatal human illness (CJD or Creutzfeldt-Jakob
>Disease).
>
>3: It is impossible to move downed animals humanely, and they are
>typically pushed with tractors or dragged with chains - inhumane
>processes which cause injuries ranging from bruises and abrasions, to
>broken bones and torn ligaments.
>
>4: Downed animals comprise a very small percentage of animals
>slaughtered, and prohibiting their marketing will cause no undue
>economic hardship.
>
>5: 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.
>
>Sincerely,
Calder Martin
655 Fulton St. #291
Brooklyn NY 11217