Press Releases
August 25, 2005
Consumers Flock to Supermarkets Nationwide Demanding Warning Signs for Mercury-Tainted Seafood
. The same poll, commissioned by Oceana and conducted in late 2004 by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, showed strong public backing for posting warning signs, with 86 percent of respondents supporting such a requirement.
“Apparently the FDA doesn’t want to publicize its own advice to the people who need it most: consumers,” said Savitz. “Commissioner Crawford says the FDA is doing enough to protect families from mercury in seafood. He will soon see that thousands of people across the country disagree and are willing to do their part to help educate others.”
“I have a 10 ½ month-old baby, and I had no idea about the mercury problem until I heard about it through Oceana,” said Doshia Mundy, a 39-year old secretary from Anniston, Alabama who personally delivered warning signs to 11 grocery stores in her area. “It really worries me thinking about how much fish we eat, and I doubt I’m the only person who doesn’t have all the information I need to make the right choices for my family.”
In early June, Oceana sent letters to several major grocery chains, including Safeway, Whole Foods, Costco, Wal-Mart, Albertsons, Trader Joe’s and Royal Ahold, owners of Giant and Stop-n-Shop, requesting that they post signs in their stores to help consumers make educated choices when buying mercury-contaminated seafood. To date, none have agreed to do so.
“Posting signs in grocery stores is a simple, inexpensive solution that fulfills our fundamental right to know what’s in the food we buy, especially when it may be harmful to our family’s health,” said Savitz.
A scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that one in six American women has enough mercury in her blood to pose neurological risks to her developing baby. Although it is particularly damaging to developing fetuses, who become contaminated when the mother has high levels of mercury in her system, toxic mercury also poses health risks to adults. Studies show that high mercury levels can cause neurological damage and memory loss, increase the risk of heart attack, and lead to several other health problems.
For more information about Oceana’s Seafood Contamination Campaign or to sign Oceana’s online petition to the FDA, visit www.oceana.org/mercury.
The poll, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research Dec. 8-12, 2004, had a sample size of 800 people representing each of the nation’s 50 states, and a margin of error of +/- 3.5 %.
" words="20" link="https://usa.oceana.org/press-releases/consumers-flock-supermarkets-nationwide-demanding-warning-signs-mercury-tainted/"]August 23, 2005
Oceana: Record-breaking Bluefin Tuna has Sky-high Levels of Toxic Mercury
This summer’s amazing story about a record, 873-pound bluefin tuna caught off the coast of Delaware by a recreational angler... Read More
August 16, 2005
New England Cod Stocks in Sharp Decline
">Georges Bank cod populations, already a tiny fraction of sustainable levels, have declined by 25 percent from 2001 to 2004,... Read More
August 8, 2005
">Oceana’s research catamaran, Ranger, filming and photographing illegal driftnet fishing off southern Italy, was chased in the high seas and narrowly... Read More
August 5, 2005
Oceana Applauds PPG’s Decision to Eliminate Mercury from Louisiana Chlorine Plant
-- Jackie Savitz, Pollution Campaign Director for the international ocean conservation group Oceana, which has been running a campaign to... Read More
August 4, 2005
Scientists, Oceana Demand Commerce Secretary Take Credible Action for Sea Turtle Protection
-- Oceana submitted a petition today that demands U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez take credible action to protect the six... Read More
July 13, 2005
Oceana to Test Hundreds of Fish for Mercury Contamination at Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo
-- Recreational anglers at this year’s 3,000-participant Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo will work with Oceana to test for mercury... Read More
