From: TiffTdd@aol.com
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2001 5:33 PM
To: FDADOckets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: 98P-0151/CPI

HEllO,
    It has come to my understanding that you are attempting to grant petition 
to prohibit the slaughter of downed animals.  I think this is a very wise 
move for the USDA to make.  I am not a consumer of animal products but I do 
have friends and family who are and I know they would feel a lot more 
comfortable with these products if this went into full affect.
    Besides there being a high likelihood that this flesh is contaminated, 
there is now growing evidence that some of these downed animals may be 
infected with "Mad Cow Disease."  I'm aware that this has already caught the 
feared attention of many Americans.
    I think granting this petition may give the people a little more faith in 
the quality and safety standards of their food, not to mention in the 
treatment  of animals used in agriculture.    It is, quite frankly, 
impossible to move downed animals humanely, having to drag them by chains and 
such.
    It has been estimated by industry experts that 90% of downed animals can 
be prevented with better care and handling.  If we could now remove the 
market of this abuse on our people, our animals, our land, it will provide an 
incentive for industry to prevent  downed animals in the first place.  
Perhaps they may even begin to treat them as living beings.

Thank you dearly for your time,
Tiffany Dumont