From: EXECSEC
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2001 11:53 AM
To: Dockets, FDA
Subject: FW: FW: End Use of Human Antibiotics in Livestock Feed



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From:   Linda Spiegler[SMTP:LINDA.SPIEGLER@COLORADO.EDU]
Sent:   Friday, March 09, 2001 11:51:24 AM
To:     EXECSEC
Subject:        Re: FW: End Use of Human Antibiotics in Livestock Feed
Auto forwarded by a Rule


Dear Ms. Henney,

Thank you for your reply to my email.  I want to assure you that, although my comment to the FDA came as a form letter, I am deeply and personally concerned about both the treatment of animals and the effect of that treatment on humans.  

After World War II, the military-industrial complex in this country needed a market to continue making profits off the chemicals developed in connection with the war.  This stuff didn't just show up as napalm in Vietnam.  My generation grew up eating both canned and fresh food treated with these chemicals and their derivatives, many of which have long since been outlawed by our government because of their toxic properties.  There is also evidence of a plethora of problems related to the hormones and antibiotics fed to cattle.  One cannot help but wonder why so many baby-boom women, now going through menopause, are being steered (pardon the pun) toward hormone replacement therapy they will require for the rest of their lives.

I understand the complexities of politics and economics, and I also know the FDA and other government agencies are not all-powerful.  I must, however, register my outrage that so many beings (animals and people alike) suffer because of a profit margin.  Economics must be placed in perspective along with the good of the community, in America and the world.  I do my part by not eating red meat.  I buy poultry raised without hormones or antibiotics (and I can only hope that this is true).  In other words, I take responsibility by exerting my economic power as best I can.  But we really need our government to exert its moral imperative here (do you think such a thing will ever happen in our lifetime?).

Please do all you can to help.

Sincerely,
Linda Spiegler




At 11:12 AM 3/9/01 -0500, you wrote:



    This is in response to your e-mail of March 7, to the Commissioner of the
    Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding antibiotics used in animal
    feed. 
    
    FDA shares many of your concerns on this important public health issue and
    the January-February issue of FDA Consumer contains a feature story on the
    Agency's efforts in this area. This article may be found online at:
    http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/101_chic.html
    
    Since the issues raised in your message relate to a public docket, we are
    forwarding your message to the Dockets Management Branch to be considered as
    a comment. If you would like additional information on how FDA is
    approaching the management of animal antibiotics, please visit our website
    at the following URL:
    http://www.fda.gov/cvm/antimicrobial/antimicrobial.html 
    
    Thank you for sharing your concerns with us.
    
    FDA Executive Secretariat
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Henney, Jane 
    Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2001 12:42 AM
    To: EXECSEC
    Subject: FW: End Use of Human Antibiotics in Livestock Feed
    
    
    
    
    > ----------
    > From:
    linda.spiegler@colorado.edu[SMTP:LINDA.SPIEGLER@COLORADO.EDU]
    > Sent:         Wednesday, March 07, 2001 12:20:43 AM
    > To:   jhenney@oc.fda.gov
    > Cc:   linda.spiegler@colorado.edu
    > Subject:      End Use of Human Antibiotics in Livestock Feed
    > Auto forwarded by a Rule
    > 
    Linda Spiegler
    P.O. Box 4211
    Boulder, CO  80306
    
    linda.spiegler@colorado.edu
    
    
    Dear Dr. Henney,
    
    I am writing in support of Petition 99P-0485 to urge you to ban medically
    useful antibiotics from livestock feed.
    
    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,
    
    
    Linda Spiegler