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