From: Mary C. Jablonski [mcjabo@execpc.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 7:16 PM
To: EXECSEC
Subject: Antibiotics in our agriculture

January 9, 2001


Jane E. Henney, M.D.
Commissioner
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD  20857-0001

Dear Dr. Henney,

I am writing to ask you, most urgently, to collect and report data on
the use of antibiotics in the agriculture industry of the United
States.  Please make it a top priority.

I have become aware that truly massive amounts are used in American
agriculture.  We are already misusing antibiotics so much.  A small
example are the anti-bacterial soap products sitting on grocery store
shelves.  Antiotic resistance is growing, and becoming a very serious
health concern.  I know about this in my own body:  I spent hundreds of
dollars, two doctor's time and about five months with a sinus infection
that simply wouldn't go away.  The usual antibiotic for it was useless,
the second level of antibiotic only slowed it down, and the third
high-test antibiotic finally killed it.  I lost time at work;  insurance
companies had to pay out;  etc. etc.

Dr. Hanney, certainly I don't expect your collection and reporting of
agricultural antibiotic use to end my sinus infections.  But I think we
need to start shining some light on such use.  That old saying, "We are
what we eat" is true enough to greatly concern me.  The knowledge you
gain will be powerful in helping our nation be as healthy as possible.
Lots of people cannot afford to buy organic food, which tends to use far
less antibiotics than traditional, government-subsidized food sources.
These people should be protected.  A federal antibiotic reporting system
is a great way to start.  Please make it a top priority for your
administration.

Thank you for your time and courtesy.  If you would care to respond with
your views, here is my name and address:    Mary C. Jablonski;  3741 N.
53rd Street; Milwaukee, WI  53216.


Sincerely,

MARY C. JABLONSKI

3741 N. 53rd Street
Milwaukee, WI  53216

cc:  personal file