From: agrubert@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 2:54 PM
To: Schwetz, Bernard
Subject: Methylmercury Contamination of Fish, FDA Docket No. OOP-1411/CP
1



Bernard A. Schwetz
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857

Dear Bernard A. Schwetz,

Please help protect America's kids from birth defects
caused by contaminated fish. Each year more than 60,000
children are born at risk for neurological problems
due to exposure to low-level methylmercury from seafood
eaten by their mothers, according to the National Academy
of Sciences. That is totally unacceptable. 

Consumers know that fish can be important in a healthy
diet. But that is only true if the fish doesn't contain
chemical hazards. You need to act now to tighten FDA's
allowable exposure level so it is consistent with the
standard that the EPA and National Academy of Sciences
recommend. Then you need to increase the agency's monitoring
and remove seafood from the market that violates this
new, tougher standard. I support the petition by the
Center for Science in the Public Interest to take these
steps. Approve the petition and give fish consumers
a break from this poison, please! 

The FDA also should expand its advisory to pregnant
women, women who may become pregnant, and nursing mothers
to avoid eating all types of methylmercury-contaminated
fish, including tuna steaks. The FDA can publicize
the risk best by requiring clear warning labels on
packages and in stores. FDA's weak advice to date is
just not enough. 



Sincerely,


Amy Grubert
5642 Rosa Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63109