U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Dockets Management Branch
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD  20785

Re: Docket Number 98P-0151/CPI

Gentlemen:

     I am writing to urge that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grant the petition to prohibit the slaughter of downed animals.  I was happy to see that the FDA acknowledged in a recent agency statement that the marketing and slaughter of downed animals poses an unnecessary health risk and that it prohibited the purchase of such meat for use in federal food and nutrition programs.

     From unnatural birth to often excruciating death – and every day in between – most food animals live in confining quarters, are "engineered" by drugs and breeding to meet ever-increasing production quotas, are legally transported for days without food, water, rest or adequate shelter, face death with fear and pain and are often slaughtered while still totally conscious.  There is much work to be done in this area to alleviate unnecessary suffering and granting this petition is a first step.

     Your consideration of this requested is appreciated.