Fw: Food alert: FDA's sinister fish plan, saving NY bagels, holiday recipes

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Subject: Food alert: FDA's sinister fish plan, saving NY bagels, holiday recipesTo: penas7ar@...Received: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 6:36 PM

EWG exposes FDA plan to push mercury-laced seafood 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. 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.

Save the bagels Also Friday, senior mining analyst Dusty Horwitt testified before the New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection on proposed natural gas drilling in the New York City watershed. Mining companies want to use a process called hydraulic fracturing, which involves injecting water laced with toxic chemicals into the ground. The technique threatens environmental health and the safety of public drinking water and has aroused opposition from, among others, New York pizza and bagel makers who depend on the purity of the famed New York City water for their high-quality pies and bagels. Click here to read the full testimony.

Melamine in Formula: A Parent's Perspective "When the FDA says, 'There's no reason for any parent to be concerned for any reason,' I want to roll my eyes. So when FDA spokesperson Judy Leon said exactly that about its recent discovery of melamine in U.S baby formula, I did roll my eyes, albeit briefly…" Read the rest of parent organizer Frack's EnviroBlog post.

Holiday Recipe Contest How about sharing your extra special holiday recipe with the rest world and helping EWG fight the good fight at the same time? For each recipe you submit to Organic Valley Family of Farms Holiday Recipe Contest they'll donate $1 to the group of your choice. (We hope you pick EWG.) Organic Valley Family of Farms is a nationwide co-op representing 1322 farm families. The recipe can be original or an adaptation, with credit given as appropriate. Good luck and click here to enter a recipe to support EWG!

In This Issue

Unmasking FDA's fish plan

Fighting toxin threat to NY water

Melamine in infant formula

Holiday organic recipe contest

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Good news -- we've dropped the price to just $99 for the bag, and it's still filled with green goodies like a 6-piece set of Pyrex and a 27 oz. Klean Kanteen water bottle. We can't guarantee delivery until after the holidays so we've priced the bags to move. Get your bag while supplies last (or before our staff starts snitching the cookies!)Click here to order your 2008 Pollution Solutions Gift Bag now.

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The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization dedicated to using the power of information to protect human health and the environment. The EWG Action Fund is a legislative advocacy organization that uses EWG research to promote healthy and sustainable policies.

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