To: FDADockets@OHRM-MAIL@FDAOC From: Certify: N Subject: (no subject) Date: Thursday, September 10, 1998 at 2:13:34 am EDT Attached: None DEAR FDA, AS A PRACTICING DENTIST WHO PERFORMS PERIODONTAL SURGERIES , I HAVE MADE THE DECISION NOT TO USE BOVINE SOURCED COLLAGEN MATERIALS SIMPLY BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL THAT THERE ARE ADEQUATE SCIENTIFIC SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO ASSURE THAT THESE MATERIALS ARE PRION FREE. RECENTLY THE W.H.O. HAS RECOMMENDED THAT BOVINE SOURCED MEDICAL PRODUCTS NOT BE USED FOR HUMAN APPLICATION. MY CONCERN IS ALSO FOR FOOD SAFETY. EVENTHOUGH THE U.K. HAS ENACTED STRINGENT LAWS ABOLISHING THE USE OF RENDERED RUMINANT FEED FOR ALL MEAT PRODUCTS IN OUR FOOD CHAIN..., WE HAVE NOT DONE SO HERE! HIGH CONCENTRATE PROTEIN FEED FROM RENDERERS STILL MAKES ITS WAY INTO PORK AND FOWL....THIS WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE, BECAUSE "IT HASN'T HAPPENED HERE,.......YET.".. IS DANGEROUS. THIS ACTIVITY MUST CEASE UNTIL MUCH MORE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE INHERENT NATURE OF THE AGENT OR AGENTS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TSE'S DR. R.F. AUTORE, D.M.D.