From: LCiacci@aol.com
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 1:19 PM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: (no subject)

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 (oc.fda.gov)

RE: DOCKET NUMBER: 98P-0151/CP1

With the increasing problem of contamination of our food sources and mad cow 
disease, I request the FDA create and enforce regulations forbidding the sale 
of sick and downed animals and mandate their prompt and humane euthanization 
by a licensed DVM for the following reasons:

1:  Animals who are too sick or injured even to stand should not be
 allowed to enter the human food chain.

2: 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).

3: 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.

4: Downed animals comprise a very small percentage of animals slaughtered, 
and prohibiting their marketing will cause no undue economic hardship.

5: 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.

Sincerely,

Lydia Ciacci
51 Windsor Oval
New Rochelle, NY 10805