From: Civitas [civitas@linkny.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 8:06 PM
To: EXECSEC
Subject: Antibiotic use in animals creating resistant bacteria

Dear Dr. Henney,

The routine use of antibiotics in farm animals to promote 
faster growth and prevent disease is bound to result in 
resistant strains of bacteria as we are finding in the over 
use of antibiotics to treat minor human illness.

Antibiotic residues fed to animals wind up in people 
who eat their flesh and in animal wastes which in turn 
affect water and soil organisms.

I don't believe there are any hard figures on the amount
routinely administered to animals not known to be 
suffering from a bacterial infection, but the Union of 
Concerned Scientists has produced some very large  
estimates.   I think it would be a good idea for FDA to 
start keeping track of the type and amount of 
non-therapeutic antibiotic use in animals being raised 
for human food and to conduct soil and water tests in 
the vicinity of large animal operations.

We need to save these miracle drugs for when they are 
needed and not destroy their effectiveness by unnecessary
use.   

Sincerely,
Bina Robinson   POB 26  Swain NY 14884  civitas@linkny.com . 
used