News Coverage
FDA Panel To Review Seafood Safety
Published July 22, 2002
The Food and Drug Administration announced last month that its Foods Advisory Committee would meet sometime this spring to review the agency's consumer advisory on levels of the contaminant methyl mercury in commercial seafood.
The current advisory, which was issued last year, stated that pregnant women and women of childbearing age who may become pregnant, should avoid eating four fish species with the highest levels of methylmercury-shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tile fish. The advisory also states that these women can safely eat 12 ounces per week of a variety of other fish.
FDA is convening the meeting after a report from the Environmental Working Group said FDA weakened its warning due to pressure from the commercial seafood industry. FDA says it "stands behind the process" and the science that supports the advisory. However, in the interest of openness it will convene a public meeting on the issue, FDA stated.