Tag: fish/seafood

  • Consumer Group Issues Seafood Mercury Report

    GotMercury.org recently released a report claiming that “nearly one-third of the fish purchased at [California] grocery stores contains levels of mercury the United States has deemed unsafe for consumption and more than half of theretailers did not post mercury advisory signs.” The authors based their findings on 98 samples of swordfish, halibut, salmon, and tuna…

  • Cases Recently Decided—Exploding Snails, State Alcohol Beverage Laws, E. ColiTainted Meat Outbreak

    According to a news source, a small claims court in California has exonerated two seafood restaurant supervisors for alleged negligence in the case of the exploding escargot. More details about the case appear in Issue 373 of this Update. In a two-page ruling, the court apparently determined, “There was absolutely no evidence whatsoever on what caused…

  • Food & Water Watch Critical of Seafood Eco-Labels

    Food & Water Watch (FWW) has published a report critical of seafood eco-labels that certify products as “environmentally friendly” or “sustainably produced.” Titled De-Coding Seafood Eco-Labels: Why We Need Public Standards, the report examines several seafood certification programs created “in response to a range of controversial issues related to the production and consumption of fish.” According…

  • Exploding Escargot, “Friggin’ Rudeness” and Hot Garlic Butter Lead to Small Claims Court

    Two California businessmen have reportedly filed a complaint in small claims court against a Marin County restaurateur, alleging that they were sprayed with hot garlic butter from an exploding snail. Chadwick St.-O’Harra, a former law student, and Steve Righetti were apparently celebrating Righetti’s birthday at a seafood restaurant, when the escargot purportedly exploded, dousing their…

  • FDA Responds to Media Report about Imported Toxic Seafood

    A recent investigation by NBC’s Today show has apparently revealed that some imported seafood “may contain toxic chemicals that can cause serious health problems.” Testing conducted by Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Oklahoma authorities has reportedly found contamination in shrimp, catfish, crabmeat and tilapia imported from China, Indonesia Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. “Footage taken by a…

  • ICIJ Report: Something Smells Fishy About Bluefin Tuna Market

    The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) recently published the results of a seven-month foray into the Atlantic bluefin tuna trade, claiming that widespread corruption at all levels has decimated the species. Titled Looting the Seas, the exposé reflects the efforts of 12 journalists who followed the bluefin supply chain “from major fishing fleets and…

  • Legislation Grapples with Bioengineered Animals

    U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) has introduced a bill (H.R. 6325) that would require labeling for food that contains genetically engineered (GE) animal products. The Consumer Right to Know Food Labeling Act of 2010 would amend the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and Meat Inspection Act to compel the disclosure of product ingredients derived from cloned…

  • Senators Want FDA to Halt Review of GE Salmon

    Led by U.S. Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska), a group of legislators has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to halt its ongoing review of genetically engineered (GE) salmon, citing “serious concerns with the current approval process and many potential health and environmental risks that are associated with producing GE fish.” FDA recently held public…