From: Bobbie Flowers [bobbieflowers@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2001 10:28 PM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: DOCKET NUMBER 98P-0151/CP1 

3/9/01

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

PLEASE NOTE: IT IS CRITICAL TO REFER TO 
DOCKET NUMBER 98P-0151/CP1 IN YOUR
LETTER.

Here are some points I wish to include:

* Animals who are too sick or injured even to stand
should not be allowed
to enter the human food chain.
* In addition to posing an increased risk for
bacterial contamination,
there is evidence that some downed animals may be
afflicted with a form of
BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or "Mad Cow
Disease"), a disease
which has been linked to a fatal human illness (CJD or
Creutzfeldt-Jakob
Disease).
* It is impossible to move downed animals humanely,
and they are typically
pushed with tractors or dragged with chains - inhumane
processes which
cause injuries ranging from bruises and abrasions, to
broken bones and torn
ligaments.
* Downed animals comprise a very small percentage of
animals slaughtered,
and prohibiting their marketing will cause no undue
economic hardship.
* Industry experts have estimated that 90% percent of
downed animals can be
prevented with better care and handling.  Removing the
market for downed
animals will provide an incentive to industry to
prevent downed animals in
the first place.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Mr. Bobbie D. Flowers

=====
Mr. Bobbie D. Flowers
418 West 17th Street, Apt #22A
New York, NY 10011-5826
U.S.A.
Phone: 212-242-0319
Fax: 775-743-5080
Email: bobbieflowers@yahoo.com

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