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 %.

August 23, 2005

Oceana: Record-breaking Bluefin Tuna has Sky-high Levels of Toxic Mercury

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August 5, 2005

Oceana Applauds PPG’s Decision to Eliminate Mercury from Louisiana Chlorine Plant

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July 13, 2005

Oceana to Test Hundreds of Fish for Mercury Contamination at Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo

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July 6, 2005

Oceana Kicks Off National Campaign Asking Grocers to Warn Shoppers of Mercury in Seafood

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Savitz said that Oceana is neither campaigning to take fish off of supermarket shelves nor telling people to stop eating fish, but rather trying to give consumers the information they need to make an informed decision on what is best for themselves and their families.

“It’s OK to eat low-mercury fish in moderation, but most people have no idea what to avoid, which can result in serious health problems. This ‘buyer beware’ attitude is not acceptable when it comes to our kids, and customers agree. Signs on seafood counters and tuna shelves are a sensible solution,” said Savitz.

A scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that one in six pregnant 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.

Oceana’s campaign will not only inform the public about the dangers of consuming tuna, swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish, it will also help solve the problem by reducing mercury pollution at its source. In January, Oceana released Poison Plants, a report that exposed six U.S. chlorine manufacturing companies as major mercury polluters. Oceana’s goal is to convert the last mercury-based chlorine factories to readily available, mercury-free technology, which 90 percent of the industry already uses.

Actress/Supermodel Amber Valletta to Serve as Campaign Spokesperson

Amber Valletta, fresh off the hit movie Hitch with Will Smith and star of the upcoming films Transporter 2, Man About Town and Silent, announced today that she will become the spokesperson for Oceana’s Seafood Contamination Campaign, a decision prompted by the mercury-poisoning experience of a friend and the fact that she is a young mother.

“When the effects of mercury-poisoned seafood strike this close to home, it makes you want to do something about it,” Valletta said. “I am happy to help Oceana give young women the information they need to make informed choices about the food they buy to feed their families, and to help in their campaign to stop mercury pollution at the source.”

Savitz welcomed the increased visibility among women of childbearing age that having the supermodel as a spokesperson will bring Oceana’s campaign.

“Amber knows firsthand about the need to make government warnings about mercury more widely known, and we’re thrilled that she has decided to help us take our message to a broader audience,” said Savitz.

For more information about Oceana’s Seafood Contamination Campaign, visit www.oceana.org/mercury.

June 6, 2005

Oceana to Test Fish For Mercury at Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo

WHAT: Oceana, the international ocean conservation organization and a sponsor of the 2005 Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, will:* work... Read More

April 26, 2005

Americans Fed Up with Mercury Pollution by Chlorine Plants

An overwhelming majority of Americans want new technology and regulations applied to older chlorine plants to help eliminate mercury pollution,... Read More