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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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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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