SMART Fish Campaign
New Englanders are proud of our maritime heritage, and many vacationers come here to enjoy our lakes, rivers, and ocean—and to dine on our fresh seafood. Yet many people are unaware of the risks facing women of childbearing age and young children from eating mercury-contaminated fish. The New England Zero Mercury Campaign is inviting stores and restaurants to help alerting their customers about mercury-contaminated fish and to join our SMART Fish campaign kick-off this July.
Resources Studies have confirmed that some fish have high levels of the toxin mercury. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns young children and pregnant or nursing women not to eat swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish. Several New England states also warn these groups not to eat any freshwater fish caught in their state and to limit consumption of canned tuna and to choose “light” rather than “white” canned tuna.
Federal health experts estimate that between 30 percent and 50 percent of women of childbearing age are not aware of the exposure risks of mercury from consumption of fish. Consumers who haven't seen these warnings may be unknowingly endangering themselves or their children with their fish choices. You can help them make the right choices, and we are writing you to encourage you to do so.
The New England Zero Mercury Campaign (NEZMC) is a coalition of public interest organizations in all six New England states working to eliminate mercury emissions in the region and to promote health warnings to prevent mercury exposure. We have made significant progress toward achieving our goals, however, many fish remain contaminated by mercury pollution--and too few consumers know the risks of eating contaminated fish.
Around the country, a number of stores and restaurants have voluntarily stepped forward to help address the mercury issue and protect their customers from this health threat.In June 2003, Wild Oats Markets, Inc, a leading chain of natural food stores, pledged to be the first grocer to post the FDA warning at all of their seafood counters in their 101 stores across the country.
Major grocery store chains in California like Safeway, Kruegers, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods have recently reached an agreement with the California Attorney General to post the FDA warning about mercury-contaminated fish at their seafood counters. In addition, Whole Foods posts information on its website and distributes informational pamphlets on mercury. New Orleans restaurants recently participated in an event to raise awareness about mercury in fish and how to reduce mercury pollution.
Mercury is released into the atmosphere from coal-fired power plants, waste disposal, and industrial processes. Mercury pollution works its way up the food chain first into fish and then into the people who eat those fish.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8% of women of childbearing age have unsafe mercury levels. Studies show that mercury exposure can cause brain and nerve damage resulting in impaired coordination, blurred vision, tremors, irritability and memory loss, behavioral problems and loss of intelligence, and cardiovascular disease.
While grocery stores and restaurants are not responsible for causing the environmental contaminants in fish, they can play a vital and responsible role in educating their consumers—especially vulnerable populations. That's why we're encouraging businesses to assist consumers in making informed choices about the fish they eat and their children eat.
We have created a printer-friendly Fish Advisory based on those posted in California's grocery stores. We urge grocery stores to post this advisory in an eye-catching location at the seafood display in your store.
We encourage restaurants to include the following message on your menu:
Pregnant and nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and young children should not eat any of the following fish: swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, tuna steaks or any freshwater fish caught in New England due to mercury contamination.
We will be coordinating media events throughout New England to promote the stores and restaurants that are posting these consumer advisories. We would like to let the public know that certain stores and restaurants are taking pro-active measures to protect the health of their customers.Restaurants and stores that would like to participate in our SMART Fish Campaign launch press conference should submit this Participation Form or send an email to sdormody@cleanwater.org before July 1, 2003.
We also encourage you to join us in pressing for public policies that end the use and emissions of mercury, and protect our fish supply for future generations. Take Action here
Please do not hesitate to contact us at (401) 331-6972 or sdormody@cleanwater.org if you have questions. For more information about the FDA advisory, see www.cfsan.fda.gov.