From: ktwshbrn@gte.net
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 10:25 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Methylmercury Contamination of Fish, FDA Docket No. OOP-1411/CP
1



Food and Drug Administration, Dockets Management Branch
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20857

Dear Food and Drug Administration, Dockets Management Branch,

We write to urge you to protect America's children
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. Please 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.
 Please, then, take action to increase the agency's
monitoring of seafoods and remove from the market seafood
that violates this new, tougher standard. We 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,


Kathleen and Tom Washburn
4811 2nd Ave. Dr. NW
Bradenton, Florida 34209