From: EXECSEC Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2001 11:15 AM To: Dockets, FDA Subject: FW: End Use of Human Antibiotics in Livestock Feed > ---------- > From: Henney, Jane > Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2001 11:14:44 AM > To: EXECSEC > Subject: FW: End Use of Human Antibiotics in Livestock Feed > Auto forwarded by a Rule > > > > ---------- > From: nunji@aol.com[SMTP:NUNJI@AOL.COM] > Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2001 11:15:39 AM > To: jhenney@oc.fda.gov > Subject: End Use of Human Antibiotics in Livestock Feed > Auto forwarded by a Rule > Susan Harris HC 1, Box 61, Bund Road Gilboa, NY nunji@aol.com Dear Dr. Henney, I am writing in support of Petition 99P-0485 to urge you to ban medically useful antibiotics from livestock feed. Not to mention the danger of additives to livestock feed that may cause or promote mad cow disease or the spread of other diseases. I would rather pay more for my meat than have to worry about the spread of disease or the fact that antibiotice will no longer cure pneumonia when and if my child chances to be exposed to this! Livestock should be eating nothing that is not natural for them to eat, and additives and antibiotics are not something that they normally would be ingesting. For decades, livestock producers have fed human antibiotics to hogs, cows and poultry to speed their growth or counteract the effects of crowded living conditions and poor hygiene. In fact, about one third of the antibiotics manufactured in the United States each year ends up in animal feed. Mounting evidence has proven that the overuse of antibiotics for livestock makes the drugs less effective for humans. Scientists, health organizations and governments around the world are urging that antibiotics not be squandered on fattening livestock. The World Health Organization recommended that antibiotics used to treat humans not be used to promote animal growth. The GAO reported that "research has linked three diseases with antibiotic-resistant strains affecting humans to the use of antibiotics in animals;" and the European Union has already banned human antibiotics in animal feed. I urge you not to allow an antibiotic to be used in livestock feed if that antibiotic is used in human medicine. Please tell me how you plan to address this looming health crisis. Sincerely, Susan Harris