From: Center for Food Safety [action@foodsafetynow.org]
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2001 11:23 PM
To: FDA Commissioner
Cc: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov; president@whitehouse.gov;
vice.president@whitehouse.gov
Subject: Remove rBGH from the market!

FDA Commissioner
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane
Room 1061 (HFA-305)
Rockville, MD 20852

RE: Docket No. 98P-1194

Dear FDA officials:

I am writing to make clear my support for the following action: a legal 
 petition filed on January 19, 1999, by the Center for Food Safety and 
numerous other organizations and individuals asking the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) to withdraw approval of genetically engineered bovine 
growth hormone (rBGH), also known as rBST or Posilac®.

How can you not do so when rBGH clearly has the potential to cause human 
health problems!?  Studies have found that the oral feeding of rBGH led to 
thyroid cysts and prostate activity in male rats. Significant animal 
health problems were associated with rBGH use in dairy cows including a 
50% risk increase of lameness and a 25% risk increase in udder infections 
that are treated with antibiotics. This new analysis has confirmed earlier 
scientific studies and provided evidence that milk and dairy products 
derived from rBGH and antibiotic-treated cows pose significant potential 
human health impacts such as increased cancer risks and  the development 
of antibiotic resistance. These and other consequences will have their 
most deleterious effect on children.

The FDA should act now to ensure the safety and quality of our American 
food supply. It is absolutely appalling that the FDA allows rBGH on the 
market even though Canada and the European Union refuse to approve this 
dangerous product because of the potential risk. The Food, Drug and 
Cosmetic Act mandates that evidence of imminent health hazards caused by 
animal drugs,  such as those revealed about rBGH,  require the FDA to 
withdraw such products from the market.  I support the Center for Food 
Safety and other organizations that have filed a legal petition seeking 
that the FDA fulfill this legal obligation.

Please consider your own health and that of our children. Take immediate 
action to remove this potentially hazardous product from the market.

Sincerely,

Deborah K. Britt



Deborah Britt
597 S. 11th Street
San Jose, CA, 95112

CC: 
FDA Dockets Management Branch, docket 98P-1194
President Bush
Vice President Cheney
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
Representative Mike Honda
Representative Zoe Lofgren

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