Tuesday, December 23, 2008

FDA and Misleading Advisories for Pregnant Women and Fish consumption

Confused about fish and pregnancy? Mercury? EFAs? The FDA says pregnant women SHOULD eat fish, EWG points out that mercury is a problem. Check this out from our friends at Environmental Working Grou:

---------------------------------------

On Friday, December 12, the Environmental Working Group made public internal government documents disclosing the Food and Drug Administration's secret plans to reverse federal warnings that pregnant women and children limit their fish intake to avoid mercury, a neurotoxin especially dangerous to the fetus and infants. EWG obtained both the FDA plan, stamped "CLOSE HOLD," and memos by senior Environmental Protection Agency scientists attacking FDA's rationale. The Washington Post broke the story, and other national stories followed.

Reaction from Capitol Hill was swift and sharp. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT., denounced the FDA: "Now, in the administration's 11th hour, they are quietly trying to water down advisories for women and children about the dangers of mercury in fish, disregarding sound science on this issue. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin capable of impairing childhood development at very low levels."

Read the Washington Post story here.

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:44 AM

    If the FDA is going to take this stance on mercury do you suppose they'll take a closer look at childhood vaccinations? Doubtful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Cari,

    If scientists were to be totally scientific about believing Hg is a neurotoxin, certainly, you'd have to go there. They already know Parkinson's can be caused by pesticides...but they don't go there, either! Cheers.

    ReplyDelete