From: Flvoices@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 6:04 PM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Re: PETITION TO THE FDA TO PROHIBIT THE SLAUGHTER OF DOWNED
ANIMALS

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

To the FDA:
Obviously, if  the FDA has deemed "Downed Animals" unfit for the school lunch 
program, such sick and dying animals are unfit for consumption.  I protest 
the cruel handling of these poor animals and I also protest the FDA's weak 
response to the danger of Mad Cow Disease.  Please ban the slaughter for 
consumption of "downed animals".  
 
 PETITION TO THE FDA TO PROHIBIT THE SLAUGHTER OF
 DOWNED ANIMALS
 
 
     A petition (Docket # 98P-0151/CP1) is currently
 before the Food and Drug Administration to prohibit
 the slaughter of 'downed' animals. Downed animals are
 those animals too sick or injured to stand. This
 petition stems from the basis that animals too sick to
 even stand should not enter the human food chain, due
 to the increased risk of bacterial contamination, and
 evidence
 that some downed cows may even be afflicted with a
 form of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or "Mad Cow
 Disease".
 
     Additionally, there is no humane way to move a
 downed animal; they are typically dragged with chains,
 or lifted with a forklift, causing suffering and
 further injuries.
 
     Downed animals comprise a  very small percentage
 of animals slaughtered, and prohibiting their
 marketing would cause no undue economic hardship. In
 fact, removing the market for downed animals would
 encourage better treatment and handling, thus
 preventing most downers in the first place.
 
      There is growing consensus for such a
 prohibition, even among livestock industry and
 government officials. The USDA has already instituted
 a policy of refusing to accept meat from downed
 animals for the National School
 Lunch Program, and numerous beef, dairy, and pork
 industry representatives have voiced support for such
 a prohibition.
 
 It is essential that the FDA  grants Docket # 98P-0151/CP1. 

   For more information and a complete text of the
 petition, visit www.nodowners.org , "Federal Efforts"
 page

Sincerely,
Gael Murphy
6918 N. Oregon Ave.
Tampa, FL 33604
flvoices@aol.com