http://buellerskitchen.com/?p=526
I saw the doctor today and I’m all better,
super strong, and ready to start detox again in a week. So I will keep you
posted. In the meantime this is a fascinating time line from the Environmental Working Group
about how the FDA has failed for decades to warn people about mercury:
1950s: Mass poisoning in Minamata, Japan from fish
contaminated with mercury-laden wastewater provides first evidence that the
fetal brain is harmed by mercury.
1970s: Another mass poisoning, this one in Iraq from mercury
contamination in grain, results in deaths and permanent impacts to exposed
children.
1990s: A string of studies are published showing permanent
brain damage among about 1000 children in the Faroe Islands exposed to mercury
in the womb from their mother’s consumption of contaminated seafood.
JANUARY 2001: FDA issues first advisory about mercury in seafood
for women of childbearing age, saying it is safe for women to eat 12 ounces of
a variety of any type of seafood except four that should be completely avoided
— shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Agency includes no warnings on
canned tuna and many other fish high in mercury.
APRIL 2001: EWG publishes new analysis showing that 25% of all
women would be exposed to unsafe levels of mercury if they followed FDA’s
advice. In resulting press account, FDA officials tell the New York Times that
they couldn’t give women better information because their focus group research
told them that women would stop eating fish altogether if presented with all the
facts about mercury.
APRIL 2001: EWG files Freedom of Information Act request to get
the focus group transcripts in which, according to FDA, women indicated they
did not want detailed information on the dangers of mercury in seafood.
MARCH 2002: EWG publishes analysis of focus group transcripts
which finds that FDA had essentially lied to the New York Times, and that women
want clear information about the hazards of mercury in fish and will continue
to eat fish low in mercury. EWG also finds that an FDA official told focus
groups that canned tuna contains enough mercury to harm the developing brain of
a baby in the womb. EWG’s findings are featured in a front-page story in the NY
Times food section. The FDA immediately announces plans to convene their expert
advisory panel to assess the agency’s seafood advisory.
July 2002: The advisory panel meets, finds that the FDA’s
advice is inadequate, and sends them back to the drawing board to create a
meaningful advisory based upon sound science and adequate fish testing. EWG made a
presentation to this panel.
DECEMBER 11, 2003: After implementing a token fish testing program, FDA
releases a new draft advisory containing no substantial changes from the
initial version. At the same time, the advisory panel meets again, and once
again warns the FDA that the advisory again has the same problems as the
previous version, finding that the FDA’s advice is inadequate, particularly
with regard to the troubling levels of mercury in canned tuna, and sending them
back to the drawing board to create a meaningful advisory based upon sound
science and adequate fish testing.
DECEMBER 22, 2003: EWG files a Data Quality Act (DQA) challenge that
will require the FDA to set scientifically-sound public health policies. The
FDA has 60 days from date of receipt to respond to our challenge.
FEBRUARY 19, 2004: FDA sends EWG a letter saying that they cannot meet
the February 20 deadline for responding to our DQA challenge. The letter
advises that FDA will respond by April 20th.
MARCH 2004: FDA releases a purportedly “new” advisory. The
underlying advice remains substantially the same as the first advisory issued
three years ago. An EWG analysis shows that 99 percent of all babies in the
womb would exceed a safe dose of mercury if their mothers followed FDA’s advice
and ate a can of albacore tuna each week.
APRIL 14, 2004: FDA sends EWG a second delay notice, saying that
they cannot meet the April 20 deadline for responding to our DQA challenge. The
letter advises that FDA will respond by June 20th.
JUNE 16, 2004: FDA sends EWG a third delay notice, saying that they
cannot meet the June 20 deadline for responding to our DQA challenge. The
letter advises that FDA will respond by August 20th.
And the misinformation and misleading of the
public and even worse, pregnant women, just keeps getting worse. Check out the
latest article
about the FDA’s attempt at covering up mercury toxicity once again: