Ohio Coal Closures: A Business Decision That Pays Dividends for Neighboring Communities and the Great Lakes 2/1/2012 Mercury Regulations 12/29/2011 Score one for cleaner water, safer fish 12/28/2011 
Safe Harbor in the News
ABC World News Tonight - November 2005
CNBC - March 2008
NBC King 5 - January 2008
KPIX CBS 5 - February-March 2008
Good news for human health and a clean energy economy out of Ohio yesterday: an announcement that FirstEnergy is closing units at six of the nastiest coal plants in the nation. Four of the plants sit on the shores of an endangered Lake Erie; taking a significant toll on the nearby communities and Great Lakes in general. Copyright Huffington Post, 2012.
Mercury Regulations 12/29/2011
On Dec. 21, the EPA announced the first-ever national standards to reduce mercury, arsenic, cadmium and other toxic air pollutants from coal plants by requiring installation of modern pollution control equipment. These standards make good economic and environmental sense - the Mercury Pollution Reduction Standards Protect Children's Health and the Great Lakes. Copyright 2011, Chicago Tribune.
Score one for cleaner water, safer fish 12/28/2011
President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency just issued the first-ever nationwide public health protections against toxic mercury from coal-fired power plants. Coal plants are the number one source of mercury pollution in the United States and it takes just one gram of mercury to contaminate a 20-acre lake. Copyright 2011, www.dailyrecord.com.
Clearing the air on mercury 12/23/2011
We just can't get enough of the coverage of the new mercury pollution controls and for good reason; the Obama administration's rules show that the country will no longer tolerate the health toll caused by emissions of mercury and other highly toxic pollutants from coal plants. Copyright 2011, LA Times.
Three cheers for new mercury pollution standards 12.21.2011
The point is not to be "against" coal but against coal pollution! As a society (and subsequently our government) we need to help the industry become cleaner rather than penalize it out of existence as that is just not viable. Let the industry write off pollution abatement costs, give tax breaks to industries that create smoke stack scrubbers, get creative about building up the people that help clean coal pollution and stop attacking coal itself. Let's try and think CONSTRUCTIVELY not destructively!! Copyright 1999-2011 Grist Magazine, Inc.
FDA Officials In China To Plug New Food Safety Law 11/4/2011
Fifteen percent of the food Americans eat is imported, including more than 80 percent of the seafood, and two-thirds of the fruit and vegetables. Our current food safety system can't even begin to keep tabs on the 24 million shipping containers loaded with food that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates arrived this year from overseas. Increasingly, that food is coming from China, which has suffered a series of scandals involving tainted food. Copyright 2011, NPR.
Roadmap To Your Child's Brain 9/30/2011
Helpful tips and advice taken from the new book "Welcome To Your Child's Brain"...Included in these tips is adevice encouraging expecting mothers to eat seafood while pregnant. While we don't disagree with this advice, as experts on seafood contamination, we simply caution KNOW WHAT YOU ARE EATING!! The article mentions salmon and sardines which are great choices, though some fish should be avoided - check out the RESOURCES tab above to learn more! Copyright The Boston Globe, 2011.
Study Links Low DHA Levels to Suicide Risk Among US Military Personnel 8/24/2011
As if we needed MORE impetus to eat seafood right? Well it turns out there is yet another benefit to consuming seafood containing large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids (or DHA) - high quantities of this substance have been found to reduce the risk of suicide in US military personnel. Just make sure you aren't trading one risk for another...Make sure you're buying the SAFEST seafood available - Safe Harbor Certified Seafood! Copyright 2011, Newswise Inc.
A Win For Seafood Safety In Spain! 8/18/2011
As a result of pressure from Oceana, the Spanish government recently issued a formal health warning to women of child-bearing age and to children regarding unsafe levels of mercury in swordfish, bluefin tuna, and two species of sharks often eaten in Spain. This may seem like an obvious public health precaution, but in reality it marks a significant victory in a battle that lasted several years. CHEERS SPAIN!!! Copyright 2011, TheHuffingtonPost.com
Chef Dominic Tedesco Gives a Shout-out to Safe Harbor!! 8/16/2011
Chef Dominic Tedesco gives a shout-out to Safe Harbor Certified Seafood while preparing his signature Safe Harbor Certified salmon burger! Thanks Chef!! Copyright 2011, Looplane.com.
Mercury Pollution Safeguards Proposal Draws Blockbuster Public Support 8/5/2011
"Once the standards are in place, widespread use of existing pollution-control technology will prevent an estimated 17,000 premature deaths and 11,000 heart attacks each year. These safeguards will also protect against 120,000 incidents of childhood asthma symptoms and ensure 11,000 fewer cases of acute bronchitis in children each year, making this is one of the largest steps forward in protecting our kids from toxic air pollution in a generation." NOW THAT'S PROGRESS!! Copyright 1996-2011 National Wildlife Federation.
Royal Hawaiian Seafood, a San Francisco wholesale seafood distributor, is teaming up with Bay Area seafood certifier Safe Harbor to become the nation's first seafood wholesaler providing independent verification that all of the fish it distributes is accompanied with traceability information and is within key government safety guidelines. Copyright 2011 CBS Interactive, Inc.
Nuclear Radiation Exposure Concerns Mount for Mothers Japan 7/15/2011
THIS IS WHY SAFE HARBOR SCREENS OUR CERTIFIED SEAFOOD FOR RADIATION!!:Parents along Japan's eastern region are now facing increased worries about their children. The CDC informs, "large radiation doses to the fetus during the more sensitive stages of development, between weeks 2 and 18 of pregnancy, can cause birth defects, especially to the brain." The key is this: Accumulation does count...Copyright WNN Media Group, 2011.
EPA's Lisa Jackon, Lone Gunslinger for Science and the Environment 7/7/2011
Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator strives to establish new regulations on smog, mercury, carbon dioxide, vehicle emissions and more, including the FIRST EVER regulatory action reducing emissions from coal-burning power plants. This would mark the first and only real progress in 21 years, since inception of the 1990 Clean Air Act. COULD IT BE REAL PROGRESS???!!!?? Copyright 2011 Scienceblogs LLC.
"The Last Mountain": The people versus Massey Energy 7/5/2011
An inspiring film about the citizen-activists of the Coal River Mountain Valley and their fight to end the environmental, climate and health dangers created by the coal industry. Corporations like Massey are essentially privatizing the "commons" (air, water, sea rights) that the signing of the Magna Carta guaranteed a thousand years ago. Corporate valuation of profit over life has led to arsenic, mercury, and lead ingestion, asthma, silicosis, cancer, brain damage, autism possibly caused by heavy metal contamination, and many cases of premature death...Are we paying attention yet?!? Copyright 2011 peoplesworld.org
How Much Coal Is In Your Life? 6/28/2011
WOW...The Sierra Club makes a very bold statement with their new website and "Coal In Your Life Calculator". Filling in answers to three simple questions will give you the impact of coal-burning pollution on YOUR life. As a company, Micro Analytical Systems, Inc registered with a score of "3" = coal is our next door neighbor and negatively impacts our lives. Unpleasant but important to know! What's your score??? Copyright 2011, Sierra Club Foundation.
Special Sustainability Seminar Vineyards Inn, Sonoma TONIGHT! 6/27/2011
ATTENTION ALL BAY AREA SEAFOOD LOVERS!! Tonight at 7:00 pm, Royal Hawaiian's own Safety and Sustainability Officer Shannon McDiarmid hosts the first of her Sustainability Seminars at the Vineyards Inn in Sonoma, CA. Please RSVP to smcdiarmid@royalhawaiianseafood.com if you'd like to attend or want more information. Hope to see you there!
Special Huffington Post blog - The Whole Coal Story 6/21/2011
A very insightful, engaging and infuriating article via the Huffington Post - FACT:Coal-burning power plants account for over half of all mercury emissions in the US; FACT: coal spews more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than any other fossil fuel; FACT: The whole story is that coal is neither renewable nor clean, and should be thought of as a temporary fuel during a transition away from coal and toward new and existing clean sources of energy...We say amen to that. Copyright 2011, TheHuffingtonPost.com
Farm Raised Fish: Not Necessarily Free of Mercury, PCBs or Dioxin 6/17/2011
Usually, from a sustainability standpoint, farm raised fish ("aquaculture") are considered best choices when compared to their wild counterpart(s), especially when referring to fish stocks that are already strained (ie, Bluefin Tuna). However, it must be articulated that farmed fish does not necessarily mean cleaner or healthier fish!! Copyright 2011, Creative Loafing Tampa.
The Obama administration is pushing stringent limits that by 2015 would force every power plant in the nation to capture 90 percent of the mercury in the coal it burns. The EPA estimates that portion of the rule will annually prevent up to 17,000 premature deaths, 11,000 heart attacks and 120,000 asthma attacks...Obama may not be perfect but this is a tangible step in the right direction!!! Copyright 2011, The Chicago Tribune.
Shark Fin Soup: War of Culture, Politics, Business 6/13/2011
The highly controversial and age-old Asian tradition of consuming shark fin soup hits a crucial crossroads: younger, more sensitive segments of the Asian population realize this delicacy is driving multiple species of shark to the brink of extinction; elder, more traditional segments of the Asian population feel the dish is a cultural necessity and one that is a cure-all for a variety of ailments. Domestic regulatory agencies (FDA) see the imported shark fins as a potential threat to public health. So who is right? The answer may not be so easily agreed upon...Copyright 2011, Marler Clark.
"The Food Dude" David Lissner interviews Supreme Lobster owner Dominic Stramaglia Safe Harbor CEO Sean Wittenberg about the merits of Safe Harbor certification and why it's crucial in today's market. Safe Harbor is Seafood with Confidence!
Tampa Bay Doctor Finds Mercury Hindering Local Execs' Brainpower 6/6/2011
A doctor in Tampa Bay finds mercury levels in Florida execs greatly affects cognitive brainpower. A third of his study group had levels higher than 15 percent, he said, "and that's where you can see a linear drop in brain speed. It was a very powerful relationship as far as mercury levels go." Maybe he should be recommending his patients consume only Safe Harbor Certified seafood? Copyright 2011, American City Business Journals Inc.
A recent study by ocean advocate group Oceana entitled "Bait and Switch: How Seafood Hurts our Oceans, our Wallets and our Health," suspect that fish and shellfish is mislabeled up to 70 PERCENT OF THE TIME! Also, they believe that consumers are routinely given little or no information about where and when seafood is harvested, and worse, the information that is provided is frequently misleading or intentionally false....Just another reason to buy Safe Harbor Certified seafood - we include traceability information with EVERY piece of seafood we certify!! Copyright 2011, Sound Publishing Inc.
Five Libido Killers!!! High Mercury Fish Is One of Them 6/2/2011
In addition to the myriad of already known health problems associated with consuming mercury-laden seafood, add lowered sex drive to the list. Good Morning America's Dr. Belisa Vranich explains how mercury in seafood can be damaging to your libido. Could this be the worst health problem stemming from mercury in seafood??? Copyright 2011, ABC News Internet Ventures.
Safe Harbor Newsletter - Cooking For Solutions 2011 Special Edition! 6/1/2011
Welcome to a very special Cooking For Solutions edition of The Safe Harbor News! Click through to the Newsletter to learn more about Monterey Bay's annual symposium on sustainability awareness and how Safe Harbor and Bay Area supply partner Royal Hawaiian Seafood made a difference at the event.
Don't Eat The Perch: Toxic Fish List Updated 5/31/2011
State officials from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment recently updated the "Do Not Eat List" for fish caught in the San Francisco Bay - that update includes perch, shark, striped bass and white sturgeon to an already long list of species to avoid...Safe Harbor Certified seafood anyone??? Stay tuned - we are showing up in more establishments than may be apparent thus far...Copyright 2011, NBC Universal, Inc.
Made in China: Our Toxic, Imported Air Pollution 5/26/2011
David Kirby, environmental writer and autism activist writes on the alarming amount of air pollution stemming from the uber-accelerated and unchecked development of Asian societies, particularly China. Even as America tightens emission standards, the fast-growing economies of Asia are filling the air with hazardous components that circumnavigate the globe. Copyright 2011, Kalmbach Publishing Co.
Chicago Restaurants Can Soon Ensure Asian Seafood is Radiation-Free 5/19/2011
Beginning in the next couple weeks, radiation detection probes will arrive at Supreme Lobster Chicago that will be able to scan for radiation in seafood originating from Japan and the surrounding waters. Supreme Lobster, one of the main suppliers of seafood to Chicago's high-end restaurants, expects the machines to arrive next week. Safe Harbor fully expects a full roll-out of radiation detection technology to all their supply hubs. Copyright 2011, NBC Universal Inc.
Report Faults FDA Over Risks From Imported Seafood 5/18/2010
WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration is doing a poor job ensuring that imported seafood doesn't pose health risks to Americans, failing to properly assess foreign producers and inspect the products they ship to the U.S., according to a congressional research report released Monday. About half of the seafood the U.S. imports comes from foreign fish farms, and the fish grown there are prone to bacterial infections that are often treated with antibiotics and other drugs not approved in the U.S., the Government Accountability Office, or GAO, said in the report. Copyright 2011, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
High Mercury Levels found in Angelenos May be from Distant, Coal-fired Power Plants 5/13/2011
Sierra Club results from recent rounds of free hair mercury testing shows residents on Los Angeles as having blood mercury levels above the EPA Health Guidelines. According to a 2009 Physicians Responsibility Report, coal's pollution contributes to 4 out of 5 of the leading causes of death in the U.S. This includes heart problems, respiratory disease, stroke and Cancer. "The goal is to power our economy in a way that doesn't kill people," Graham-Caso said...We'll see if the recent press around this issue actually spurs change...Copyright Community Television of California, 2011.
Fish-oil Supplements are Not as Beneficial as the Real Thing 5/10/2011
Dr. Carl Bartecchi weighs in on the question "Are fish-oil supplements as good as the real thing?" The answer may surprise you. Copyright The Chieftan, 2011.
In China, Fear of Fake Eggs and "Recycled" Buns 5/9/2011
Two years ago the Chinese government vowed to revamp their food safety system. Unfortunately their mandates haven't changed much--adulterated eggs, meats, rice and a variety of produce have been found laden with everything from heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, arsenic) to chemicals (melamine, bleach) and other hazardous substances. Can you guess what is being found in their seafood supply?? Copyright 2011, The New York Times Company.
Safe Harbor Newsletter - Bay Area Special! 5/5/2011
Safe Harbor Certified seafood is now available at over 35 locations across the Bay Area! For a full list of all locations featuring Safe Harbor seafood visit www.safeharborfoods/stores/ Coming soon to a town near you!
Local Chefs Unwrap Secrets Behind What Makes Sushi so Addicting 4/27/2011
According to the National Restaurant Association, sushi consumption has increased more than 40 percent nationwide since the late 1990s, and the number is growing. Some consider it to be the new "fast food", and choose it as a carry-out item or pick it up during regular grocery store trips. Add Safe Harbor Certification to the equation and you have a light and healthy meal that won't break the bank or endanger your health! Copyright 2011 Sun-Times Media LLC.
Las Vegas Weekly - The Crisis in Japan has Many Questioning the Safety of our Sushi 4/21/2011
Las Vegas Weekly investigates the impact of radiation concerns over fish from Japan and the greater Pacific Ocean for Vegas sushi restaurants. While the extent of the problem isn't fully known, Safe Harbor is proactively researching the ability to add gamma radiation testing/detection to their comprehensive testing platform to ease consumer concern. Copyright Las Vegas Weekly, 2011.
Bird Feathers Study Show Pollution Rise Over 120 Years 4/19/2011
Feathers collected from rare Pacific seabirds over the past 120 years have shown an increase in a type of toxic mercury (methylmercury) that likely comes from human pollution, US researchers said on Monday, quoted by AFP. The feathers, which dated from 1880 to 2002, showed "increasing levels of methylmercury that were generally consistent with historical global and recent regional increases in anthropogenic mercury emissions." Copyright 2011 FOCUS Information Agency.
A recently leaked body of internal company correspondence shows senior BP brass trying to spin scientific research produced by company-paid researchers in order to minimize the scale of the spill's destruction in the public mind. Through the Freedom of Information Act, Greenpeace obtained internal emails from several environmental officers with BP asking, amongst other things, how they might "steer the research" to best serve the oil company's interests. Copyright 2011 Yahoo! Inc.
A Year In, Gulf Still Grapples with BP Oil Spill 4/15/2011
One year on, oil from the largest spill in history clogs wetlands, pollutes the ocean and endangers wildlife, not to mention the toll it has inflicted on the coastal economies of Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and especially Louisiana. Yet for all that, assessing the spill's impact presents a puzzle, experts say. Copyright Star Publications, 2011.
Mercury Exposure - Even at Low Levels - Linked to Eczema 4/14/2011
A new study published in Environmental Health Perspectives shows mercury exposure is associated with eczema, the latest addition to the list of health problems linked to mercury levels currently considered "safe." The population-based study in Korea of approximately 2,000 adults provides further evidence of an effect of mercury on the immune system. Copyright 2011 Environmental Health Sciences.
Will Americans Heed New Consumption Advice?? 4/13/2011
The federal government's revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010, released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in late January, advises Americans to double the amount of seafood they eat because of its health benefits. This advice is in contrast to current consumption figures--U.S. per-capita consumption of seafood has declined since 2004, when the average American ate 16.6 pounds of fish and shellfish. By 2009, that figure slipped to 15.8 pounds. What has caused this decline? Will Americans heed the federal government's advise? Only time will tell, though its our bet that if consumers had more confidence in the seafood they consume, consumption patterns would unequivocally rise. Safe Harbor Certfied seafood anyone??? Copyright Diversified Business Communications, 2009.
Student Activists Send Their Hair For Mercury Tests 4/4/2011
OXFORD - In an effort to draw attention to Miami University's coal plant, students with the Beyond Coal campaign snipped their classmates' hair to test it for mercury levels. The testing is the latest in the group's efforts to ask Miami to close its campus coal plant and switch to renewable energy. Miami's plant is located on western campus and uses about 24,000 tons of coal annually. Copyright 2011 Oxford Press.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Advising Lakes and Rivers with Mercury in Fish 4/3/2011
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is warning outdoorsmen that there are about lakes and rivers in the state that contain fish with various levels of mercury in them. Copyright 2011 Arkansas Television Company.
The Slippery Business of Picking Fish 3/9/2011
The Wall Street Journal delves into the "slippery" business of sustainable fish choices and the tough choices facing seafood consumers in the marketplace today. Copyright Dow Jones & Co, 2011.
KY, IN: Among Most Mercury Polluted States in Nation 2/15/2011
The Bluegrass State and Hoosier State are among the most mercury-polluted states in the nation, according to a recent report. Environment America ranks Kentucky fifth and Indiana sixth in emitting the most toxic mercury pollution. The report's analysis shows coal-fired power plants in Kentucky emitted close to 6,000 pounds of mercury in 2009. Copyright © 2011 Public News Service
Las Vegas Magazine's 2-page story on Safe Harbor Certification and the posh Las Vegas restaurants that have adopted it, including comments by Iron Chef Rick Moonen of RM Seafood, Chef Wayne Schumaker of Mastro's Ocean Club, and Chef Heath Cicerelli of Emeril's. Copyright 2011 Greenspun Media Group.
Local Chefs Work to Curb Overfishing of Some Species 2/1/2011
Sustainability is expected to be one of the hot topics in the food world in 2011, but Las Vegas chefs say their customers are already well aware of the issue, and one local chef has become a leader in the movement during the past 17 years or so - Rick Moonen. Mal Wittenberg, President/CEO of Micro Analytical Systems Inc (the company behind Safe Harbor) also weighs in on seafood safety and how Safe Harbor's efforts contribute to sustainability by investigating, among other things, the farm-raising and bycatch practices of producers. Copyright 2010 Stephens Media LLC.
N9NE Steakhouse and Nove Italiano located inside Palms Casino Resort are the first to implement the Safe Harbor Certification program, to ensure their guests are served the safest and highest quality seafood available in Las Vegas. To commemorate their participation in the program, Executive Chef Barry S. Dakake and N9NE Steakhouse hosted the Safe Harbor showcase event to the Food and Beverage industry on January 17 with well over 30 Las Vegas restaurants and casinos, including N9NE Steakhouse and Nove Italiano, in attendance. Currently, there are more than 30 restaurants implementing the Safe Harbor program in Las Vegas. Copyright Vegasnews.com, 2011.
Latest GotMercury Study: California Tuna and Swordfish Very High in Mercury! 1/20/2011
Tuna and swordfish samples gathered from 61 California grocery stores and sushi restaurants were found to contain mercury levels as much as three times the limit that allows federal food regulators to recall seafood from stores, claims a study by environmental health group GotMercury.org. Copyright 1995 - 2011 Fish Info & Services Co. Ltd
Safe Harbor is Awash in Confidence That Its Seal Will Instill Confidence 1/19/2011
Top food writer and food critic John Katsilometes covers the Safe Harbor event at N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms this last Monday 1/17/2010. In attendance were the "whos-who" of the Las Vegas hotel/casino industry, including executives from the Wynn Corporation, MGM Corporation, Harrah's, and numerous stand alone establishments. Speaking to the program was CEO Mal Wittenberg: "You have a higher concentration of great restaurants in Las Vegas than anywhere," he said. "It makes sense for us to do this here." Copyright Las Vegas Sun, 2011.
Baltimore-based chef John Shields talks about the ease and joy of cooking with seafood, including the health benefits of choosing fish over other animal based proteins. Copyright NBC Universal, Inc. 2011.
Hilary Swank suffered mercury poisoning during 'Million Dollar Baby' 1/7/2011
While 'Million Dollar Baby' earned critical acclaim and a Best Actress Oscar for Hilary Swank, it also took a toll on her health. After being a vegetarian for 18 years, at 29 the actress contracted mercury poisoning after increasing her fish consumption to put on 19 pounds of muscle for the film. Copyright 2010 MNN Holdings, LLC.
Safe Harbor in Vegas Seven Magazine - CHOW - "Seafood, Eat It!" 1/1/2011
(Page 15) Vegas Seven magazine touches on the scant oversight of imported and domestic seafood and the resulting drop in consumer confidence...The answer? Supreme Lobster and Safe Harbor teaming up to make Las Vegas the safest city in the world for seafood! Copyright 2011 Vegas Seven LLC.
Hunting for Oil in the Muddy Waters of the Gulf Shore 12/23/2010
While most of us are finishing up last minute Christmas shopping, Paul and Michael Orr jump into their 17-foot Boston Whaler ready to hunt for a different kind of merchandise--evidence of oil from the Gulf spill over 8 months ago. They collect samples from the inlets and coastline, looking for oil and chemical contamination in oysters, shrimp, crab and sediments. They are looking in areas they believe the government has not. And they have found plenty...Copyright 2010 TheHuffingtonpost.com, Inc.
Congress Passes Food Safety Bill 12/22/2010
The FDA Food Safety and Modernization Act passed 215-144 on Tuesday. Leslie G. Sarasin, president and chief executive officer Food Marketing Institute says "We also support the use of third-party certification programs and requiring food safety plans for every company manufacturing food. Our customers deserve to have the industry and government working together to ensure the safety of our food supply." WE SECOND THAT NOTION! Copyright Penton Media Inc, 2010.
EPA Clamps Down on Gold Mines' Mercury Emmissions 12/20/2010
Conservationists are hailing a new federal rule to cut emissions of the toxic metal mercury from the nation's gold mines, calling it a long overdue measure to protect the health of people and the environment. Copyright 2010 Hearst Communications Inc.
A national press release detailing MASI/Safe Harbor's newly expanded comprehensive testing protocol in Las Vegas, Nevada. For the first time, seafood that has been tested for all acute and chronic food-safety risks is available--check out our Las Vegas website at www.safeharborlasvegas.com for a full download. Safe Harbor certified seafood: making Las Vegas the safest city for seafood! Copyright 1996-2010 PR Newswire Association LLC
NRDC: Gulf Seafood Safety Guidelines Inadequate 12/13/2010
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reassess its acceptable contaminant levels for Gulf of Mexico seafood after revealing that Gulf Coast residents eat far more fish than the agency acknowledges. The NRDC surveyed 547 residents along coastal Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida from August to October and found that their seafood-consumption rates are three to 12 times higher than the national average, which the FDA uses to determine if contaminant levels pose a risk to human health. The agency estimates that consumers eat an average of two fish meals and one shrimp meal per week, which begs the question: Are current FDA guidelines adequate to protect Gulf seafood consumers?? Copyright 2009 Diversified Business Communications.
De-Coding Seafood Eco-Labels: Why We Need Public Standards 12/9/2010
On Tuesday, environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch (www.foodandwaterwatch.org) declared that current seafood eco-labels (including the increasingly criticized MSC Certification) are not adequate indicators of sustainable seafood choices for consumers, restaurants or retailers. Copyright Food & Water Watch, Nov 2010.
Consumer Reports: New Tests Reinforce Concerns About Mercury In Tuna 12/8/2010
Consumer Reports' latest tests of 42 samples from cans and pouches of tuna bought primarily in the New York metropolitan area and online confirm that white (albacore) tuna usually contains far more mercury than light tuna. Canned tuna, Americans' favorite fish, is the most common source of mercury in our diet. Copyright© 1996-2010 PR Newswire Association LLC.
Mal Wittenberg via The Huffington Post - "Gulf Spill Fix Part 2 - Consumer Confidence" 11/18/2010
On his latest blog via The Huffington Post, Mal Wittenberg delves into the social and economic ramifications of the BP Oil spill for the local Gulf economy and the seafood industry in general. Copyright The Huffington Post 2010.
Today Show - Could Your Seafood Contain Toxic Chemicals? 11/17/2010
Eighty percent (80%) of the fish, shrimp and crustaceans Americans eat actually comes from overseas — and a TODAY investigation that aired Tuesday found that some of that seafood may contain toxic chemicals that can cause serious health problems. Footage taken by a U.S. advocacy group of seafood being raised in Vietnam, for example, showed fish in dirty sewage water, pumped with toxic antibiotics and banned drugs just to keep them alive, boosting production and driving down costs. Copyright 2010 msnbc.com
Long Wait for Food Safety Bill may be over 11/16/2010
Almost a year to the day after a unanimous committee vote, a long-stalled bill to promote food safety is poised for Senate passage within a week. The FDA will be charged with the task of enforcing the new initiatives which should take effect by 2014. Copyright 2010 Capitol Hill Publishing Corporation.
Demand for certified-responsible fish growing 11/11/2010
The demand for responsibly farmed, certified safe aquaculture products is exponentially increasing and raises many questions - what do these standards mean? Which standards will guarantee the safest, highest quality farmed products? Are the standards really that different? As these questions are answered and more certification schemes pop up, Safe Harbor continues to run the most comprehensive testing program in the world. Copyright 2009 Diversified Business Communications.
Groups Applaud EPA Action to Reduce Water Pollution From Power Plants 11/9/2010
Leading U.S. environmental groups put the EPA on notice last year that the new clean water rules were decades overdue, leaving the American public exposed to heavy metals like arsenic, lead, chromium, and mercury. The EPA has agreed to a formal consent decree, locking in deadlines for these reforms starting July of 2012. Copyright © 1996-2010 PR Newswire Association LLC.
BP To Fund Florida Seafood Testing and Marketing - Too Little Too Late? 10/26/2010
BP on Tuesday said it will provide the state of Florida with USD 20 million in funding for Gulf of Mexico seafood testing and marketing over the next three years. While BP's agreement is a big win for the state of Florida we wonder is this too little too late??? Copyright 2009 Diversified Business Communications.
FDA Recommends on-site food safety managers at restaurants 10/26/2010
As it called for continued improvements in food safety, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that all restaurants and retailers employ certified food protection managers. While not yet a requirement, this recommendation is one more step in the evolution of government mandated food-safety initiatives and the agency plans to add a provision requiring restaurants to employ certified food protection managers to a future edition of the federal “FDA Model Food Code. Copyright 2010 Nation's Restaurant News.
Forty one percent of fish samples taken from 11 Florida supermarkets in the Destin, Florida, area were found to contain dangerous levels of mercury, adding to the concerns about the safety of seafood being caught and eaten in the Gulf of Mexico in the aftermath of the BP oil spill. The mercury-in-fish testing was conducted as part of national effort called Operation Safe Seafood initiated by the public health advocacy group GotMercury.org
"Today's Consumers - Perception Is Reality!" 9/9/2010
Mal Wittenberg via the Huffington Post, speaks to recent food safety and consumer surveys that unanimously declare that for today's consumer "perception is reality" and that contemporary food retailers and food service entities need to address food safety issues, in particular mercury in fish, to alleviate consumer concerns and bring confidence back to seafood. Copyright The Huffington Post, 2010.
The Gulf Oil Spill and Seafood Safety 8/20/2010
Gina Solomon of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) speaks on the Gulf oil spill and the safety of Gulf seafood, including mercury as a concern as it is found in crude oil. Copyright The Huffington Post, 2010.
Food and Drink Quarterly: A Growing Concern (Op-Ed piece by Mal Wittenberg) 8/4/2010
In the latest issue of Food and Drink Quarterly, Mal Wittenberg is the author of A Growing Concern, an in-depth look at the issue of mercury in fish, the FDA and the how the US and Chinese coal-fired power industries play a role. Copyright Positive Publications, 2010.
Mal Wittenberg: Restoring Consumer Confidence In Essential Foods 7/26/2010
Mal Wittenberg, President and CEO of MASI/Safe Harbor speaks out about food safety, consumer perception and the need for increased consumer confidence in seafood. Read on to see how Safe Harbor helps boost this confidence in seafood daily. Copyright Huffington Post, July 2010.
Jeremy Piven on Speed-The-Plow and Mercury Poisoning 7/1/2010
Actor Jeremy Piven speaks out on his 2008 mercury poisoning from eating sushi while working on the David Mamet play "Speed-The-Plow." Copyright ABC News, 2010.
Toxic Mercury Is More at Home in Seawater Study Finds 6/30/2010
A new study suggests that humans need to be more wary of saltwater fish like tuna, mackerel and sharks than of freshwater fish. Although seawater has lower concentrations of mercury than freshwater, mercury in seawater is more likely to stay in its toxic form, researchers report in a recent issue of Nature Geoscience. Copyright New York Times, 2010.
Navigating the Sustainable Seafood Waters 6/17/2010
A new report from the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) investigates the concept and practice of sustainability in today's seafood industry and reaffirms seafood safety as the number one consumer concern (slides 7-9). Copyright Food Marketing Institute 2010.
Report says FDA struggles to keep food safe 6/8/2010
WASHINGTON - A new report says the Food and Drug Administration is stretched thin and needs to reorganize to better keep the nation's food safe. The FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety of about 80 percent of the nation's food supply, including seafood, dairy products, and fruits and vegetables. Copyright Associated Press, 2010.
How Much Mercury Is In Your Sushi - NBC 3-part piece
NBC Investigative Unit follows Gotmercury as they collect multiple pieces of sushi from numerous restaurants in the L.A. area. Utilizing Micro Analytical Systems, Inc (MASI) to test the fish, the resulting mercury concentrations in the sushi may surprise you, though there are restaurants in L.A. striving to test the fish they sell for mercury. Follow the link to view. Copyright NBC Universal, 2010.
Imax Chief Targets Toxic Mercury
After experiencing mercury poisoning from consuming too much fish, IMAX chief executive Richard Gelfond decided to give $1 million to Long Island's Stony Brook University to highlight and study the dangers of mercury toxicity. Copyright Dow Jones and Company, Inc., 2010.
FOR KIDS: The mercury in that tuna
Eating fish can be good for you: It builds the brains of babies and helps the hearts of grown-ups. And eating fish can be bad for you: Fish from around the world swim in waters polluted with mercury, which gets into some fish, which gets into you when you take a bite. Copyright Society for Science & the Public 2010.
Studies Aim To Resolve Confusion Over Mercury Risks From Fish
Several new papers from Columbia University now suggest strategies by which American diners can negotiate the mercury minefield to tap dietary benefits in fish. Copyright Society for Science and the Public, 2010.
Food Safety Concerns Now More Refined
A new Deloitte survey released last week reveals that mainstream consumers have a more refined understanding of food safety that includes attention to how "processed" a food product is and where its ingredients originate. Sixty-five percent of Deloitte's respondents said they're more concerned than they were five years ago about the food they eat. Copyright 2010 Adweek.
Mercury in Tuna Sushi Higher at Restaurants
Tuna sushi from your local supermarket might have lower mercury levels and so be safer to eat than sushi from a high-end restaurant, a new study using fish DNA suggests. Copyright 2010 Techmedianetwork.com
Website Launched to Rebut 'Fish Stories' on Misguided 'Mercury Facts'
At the "International Mercury Expo 2010" this weekend at the College of William and Mary, a mercury watchdog group led by Dr. Edward Groth launched a new website to counter misinformation on 'mercury facts' spread by industry and groups claiming to represent consumers – but in reality often representing special interests in disguise. Copyright © 1996-2010 PR Newswire Association LLC.
ABC Study: Bay area fish high in mercury levels
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- 7 On Your Side has found a disturbing problem at Bay Area fish markets. Some of what you buy may contain a toxin in levels above federal safety limits. A Bay Area environmental group purchased swordfish and tuna from Bay Area markets. Ten out of 24 contained high levels of mercury. GotMercury had its fish tested at a state certified lab in Emeryville, Micro Analytical Systems. The lab put pieces of fish the size of a rice grain into its mercury analyzer. Follow the link to watch the story. Copyright ABC Inc, 2010.
Marine Stewardship Council Loses Its Luster
Long regarded as the gold-standard for eco-certification of sustainable fisheries around the world, the London-based Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has begun to lose some of its glitter, in the eyes of many of the scientists and environmentalists that met in Paris at the Seafood Choice's Alliance's annual Seafood Summit. Copyright 1995 - 2010 FIS Information & Services.
Americans eat a lot of tuna. Known as the blue bullion of the sea, tuna represents big money. If you've been craving a tuna sandwich or tuna sushi or steak, and you have a green or health conscious, you probably wonder how to make a wise choice about tuna. Copyright 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC.
Export Packers and Safe Harbor partner!
Export Packers Co. Ltd. on Monday announced it obtained exclusive rights in Canada to supply seafood under the Safe Harbor mercury-testing program. Implemented due to concerns over mercury in seafood and a lack of industry-wide testing, Export Packers can now provide the Canadian seafood industry with product tested to ensure that its mercury levels are significantly below the food-safety standards set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Copyright Seafoodsource.com, 2010.
UNLV Study: Mercury in Canned Tuna High
More than half of canned tuna samples from a local grocery store failed to meet the strict Environmental Protection Agency safety level for mercury in fish, according to a new study by University of Nevada, Las Vegas researchers. The study also found that 5 percent of the more than 300 samples exceeded the guideline set for consumers by the Food and Drug Administration. Copyright Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2010.
The Dr. Oz Show--Three Dangerous Food Toxins
Eating fish seems like one of the healthiest food choices you can make; fish is low in fat and high in protein and brain-supporting Omega-3 fatty acids. Unfortunately their homes – our oceans, seas, and lakes – are filled with pollutants. One of the most potent is methylmercury, which once absorbed by algae sets off a chain of toxic accumulation: small fish eat the algae, bigger fish eat the smaller fish and so on up the food chain until these mercury-packed fish find their way to your supermarket. Copyright Zoco 1 LLC, January 2010.
Beyond Organic - How Evolving Consumer Concerns Influence Food Purchases
The Context Marketing survey that reveals how consumer concerns over various food safety issues influences their food purchasing decisions. Of particular note is the fact that mercury in seafood is the top consumer food safety concerns according to the respondent population. Copyright Context Marketing, October 2009.
Press Release--Mercury in Seafood is #1 Consumer Food Safety Concern
A recent study conducted by San Francisco-based Context Marketing shows the the number one food safety concern on consumers' minds is mercury in seafood. Copyright MSR Communications, November 2009.
Air Pollutants Trasported from Asia
Pollutant plumes observed in the United States can be attributed unambiguously to Asian sources based on meteorological and chemical analysis, researchers say. Copyright United Press International Inc, October 2009.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has blasted the FDA's analysis of the benefits and risks of fish consumption. Copyright NaturalNews.com, September 2009.
Review shows government rarely intervenes as Calif. mercury mines pollute water and fish
Abandoned mercury mines throughout central California's rugged coastal mountains are polluting the state's major waterways, rendering fish unsafe to eat and risking the health of at least 100,000 impoverished people. Copyright Taragana August, 2009.
Mercury In Fish: Hold The Sushi!
After the release of a new government study that documents the prevalence of mercury in freshwater fish, American consumers are aware that all fish are not equal, or at least not equally good to consume. Copyright The Economist, August 2009.
Blood Mercury Levels Rising In U.S. Women
A study involving more than 6,000 American women suggests that blood levels of mercury are accumulating over time, with a big rise noted over the past decade. Copyright World Now and Sarkes Tarzian, Inc., August 2009.
Dangerous Mercury In Some Fish
Diane Sawyer speaks on mercury in fish, the newest USGS study and the potential dangers of consuming mercury in fish. Copyright ABC News, August 2009.
American River Fish Contaminated with Mercury!
A federal agency has issued an alarming report that mercury contamination in fish has become widespread across the country, including Northern California. Copyright KGO-TV San Francisco, August 2009.
Two studies show extent of mercury in environment and how it becomes toxic
A new study from the federal government released this week reveals how pervasive mercury is in our environment, while a new study from chemists at Duke University explains how that mercury becomes toxic to us. Copyright The Oregonian, August 2009.
Purdue University introduces a new website providing fish consumption recommendations and advisory information for all 50 states. Copyright Purdue University, August 2009.
Center for Consumer Freedom Serves Up Some Fishy Calculations
Rick Berman's Center For Consumer Freedom recently launched its Howmuchfish.com website that touts the benefits of consuming seafood while discrediting concerns about the negative consequences of seafood consumption, distorting EPA calculations and ignoring the potential hazards of consuming mercury contaminated seafood products. Copyright Food & Water Watch, August 2009.
SeafoodSource Q & A: Mal Wittenberg, Micro Analytical Systems, Inc.
When it comes to the mercury-in-fish debate, opinions differ vastly. But just about everyone agrees that the mercury-in-fish debate is not dissipating anytime soon. At the forefront of the issue is Mal Wittenberg, CEO of Micro Analytical Systems (MASI) in San Rafael, California. Copyright Seafood Source, July 2009.
Summer Edition of the Safe Harbor News!
The Summer 2009 installment of the Safe Harbor News outlining our activities at home and abroad, including our partnerships with The Fish Market, the Dolce Restaurant Group, various local bay area retailers and our recent Italian Sanitary Authority certification. Copyright Micro Analytical Systems, Inc/Safe Harbor, July 2009.
Superfish - A Warning To Seafood Lovers (PBS)
Seafood lovers take note--high concentrations of mercury, a neurotoxin that can damage developing brains in fetuses, is found in some level in all fish and higher levels in some popular fish such as albacore tuna. Copyright Educational Broadcasting Corporation/PBS, January 2009.
Safe Harbor Helps Hollywood Say Bye-Bye to Mercury Fears In Fish
The ultra-posh restaurant group Dolce partners with Safe Harbor Certified Seafood to merge mercury-tested seafood with fine-dining and glamorous atmospheres. Copyright Yahoo, July 2009.
Is Your Fish High in Mercury? Safe Harbor Knows
Mal Wittenberg, CEO and President of Safe Harbor Certified seafood, talks about mercury in fish, the Safe Harbor Certification process and Safe Harbor's modest beginnings. Copyright Blue Planet Green Living, August 2009.
Welcome to the 3rd edition of The Safe Harbor News
The third edition of The Safe Harbor News goes more in depth on our operations domestically and abroad. Safe Harbor Certified seafood coming soon to a grocery store near you. Copyright Safe Harbor/Micro Analytical Systems, Inc, May 2009.
Got Mercury? The Politics of Contaminated Fish
Mal Wittenberg, owner and President of MASI/Safe Harbor Certified Seafood talks about mercury in fish, lobbying efforts by the NFI, the FDA's mercury policy and Safe Harbor's strides to safeguard the public from the potential dangers of consuming mercury laden fish. Copyright Green Options Media/The Inspired Economist, April 2009.
Safe Harbor: Testing Fish For Mercury, Coming To a Grocer Near You
Non-Toxic Kids reports on the origins of Safe Harbor Certified Seafood, Safe Harbor's certification standards and the increasingly important topic of mercury in fish. Copyright Non-Toxic Kids, April 2009.
What Pregnant Moms and Parents Need To Know About Mercury In Fish
SAFbaby.com interviews Safe Harbor about the dangers of consuming mercury laden fish, the Safe Harbor testing program and the issue of mercury in fish in "What Pregnant Moms and Parents Need to Know About Fish and Mercury". Copyright safbaby.com, April 2009.
Mercury Levels In Fish Are Higher Than You Think
The San Francisco Examiner highlights the findings Safe Harbor/MASI has found with over 160,000 tests - unfortunately mercury levels in fish are higher than you think. Copyright Examiner, March 2009.
A Little Bit of Mercury Won't Hurt - will It?
Foodandwaterwatch.com reports on the current state of the FDA's mercury policy. Surprise, its not as stringent it should be. Copyright Food & Water Watch, March 2009.
Fish and Mercury: Recipe for Disaster?
KTLA conducts an investigative report on mercury in fish in local restaurants and grocery stores. MASI tests the samples collected by KTLA with startling results that may surprise you. Copyright KTLA TV, March 2009.
Dr. Hightower speaks on Mercury toxicity on NPR
Dr. Jane Hightower speaks on NPR's Forum about mercury toxicity in fish and lack of FDA mercury testing and lax mercury exposure standards. Copyright KQED Radio, February 2009.
Nations to Write Treaty Cutting Mercury Emissions
More than 140 countries have agreed to negotiate a legally-binding treaty cutting mercury use, with the goal of limiting global exposure. Copyright Washington Post, February 2009.
Study: Women living in mercury's shadow
Where you live could dictate your level of mercury exposure! Mid-westerners are better off, but the more money you make and the closer you live to the ocean might mean higher levels of the toxic metal. Copyright Chicago Tribune, August 2008.
3rd Circuit Revives Mercury-in-Tuna Class Action
The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals revives mercury-in-tuna litigation against Chicken-of-the-Sea. Copyright Incisive Media, August 2008.
Interview with Dr. Jane Hightower: My Patients and Mercury
Dr. Jane Hightower speaks about her year long study of her patients with elevated blood mercury levels. Copyright National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), June 2003.
The Winnipeg Free Press provides further indicators that our waters are contaminated with mercury, and it has made its way into the fish we eat. Copyright Winnipeg Free Press, August 2008.
Lobbyists Hide Behind Non-Profit Fronts
The "non-biased, non-profit" consumer advocacy group the Center for Consumer Freedom is investigated and de-bunked as an industry funded corporate agenda front group. Copyright ABC 7 News, May 2006.
Boston Med Center: Beware of Mercury Levels in Fish!
Boston Medical Center warns consumers about adverse health effects due to consuming mercury-contaminated fish. Copyright Boston University, June 2008.
For little ones, it's anything but brain food
A new study reveals high mercury levels in fish can be detrimental to childrens' developing brains. Copyright Sydney Morning Herald, January 2008.
Safe Harbor Testing in Washington
Washington customers respond to the new Safe Harbor program offered at Top Food & Drug and Haggen's Markets. Copyright KIMA TV, May 2008.
CNBC - Fresh Fish Sparks Technology
Concerns over mercury levels in fish sparks Micro Analytical Systems Inc to develop "One Good Idea". Worldwide coverage of MASI's fish testing operation in Southern California at American Fish LA. Copyright CNBC, March 2008.
CBS 5- Part 3 of "Is Bay Area Fish Safe?"
CBS 5- Part 3 of "Is Bay Area Fish Safe?" Sue Kwon takes a blood test to determine the mercury levels in her body after learning about high mercury levels in fish sold at local retailers and restaurants. Copyright CBS 5 News, March 2008.
CBS 5 - Part 2 -of ConsumerWatch: "Is Bay Area Fish Safe?"
(CBS 5) For the first time ever, there is a mercury test that can measure the concentration of mercury in piece of fish in a matter of seconds, before it hits the dinner table. CBS5 ConsumerWatch collected about 50 fish samples from throughout the Bay Area and has Micro Analytical Systems, Inc test the fish on camera with instant results. Copyright CBS 5 News, 2008.
SAFE HARBOR WINTER NEWSLETTER - See what MASI has been up to!
The 2008 Winter edition of the Safe Harbor News, detailing our testing activities at home and abroad.
ABC News 11 outlines the mercury in seafood issue and the potential health hazards of eating mercury contaminated predatory fish. Copyright ABC NEWS 11, February 2008.
Holiday Quality Foods is reeling customers back to the seafood case with low-mercury selections
Copyright Progressive Grocer, 2007
A Hook for Landing Mercury-Wary Eaters
When shoppers browse the seafood counters at Holiday Quality Foods' 19 grocery stores in rural Northern California today, they will find a new Safe Harbor brand, the nation's first line of low-mercury fresh fish. Copyright Los Angeles Times, 2006
Micro Analytical Systems last month introduced new equipment that would allow processors and wholesalers to measure the level of methylmercury in fish. Copyright Seafood Business, 2005