Missoula advocates urge Albertsons to post FDA mercury advisory on fish cases

Advocates and a local grocery manager in Missoula urged Albertsons to post the federal Food and Drug Administration(FDA) advisory about methylmercury on fish cases so shoppers — especially pregnant women and children — can make safer choices.

Erin, a representative of Women—s Voices for the Earth, told the public that “Mercury is a very potent neurotoxin, and it's been linked to learning disabilities in children.” Alexandra Gorman, Director of Science and Research for Women—s Voices for the Earth, said the group bought two samples (a swordfish and a tuna steak) from two Albertsons stores in Missoula and had them tested by national labs; she said many samples in the national study “were over the FDA action level of 1 part per million.” Pam Clevenger, manager of the meat and seafood department at the Good Food Store, said her store posts the advisory and encouraged other retailers to do the same.

The FDA advisory cited by speakers (issued Feb. 2004) recommends that women of childbearing age and children avoid certain high-mercury species (shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish), limit most other fish to about 12 ounces per week (roughly two meals), and limit albacore tuna to about 6 ounces (one meal) per week. Erin said supermarkets such as Safeway and Wild Oats have posted the advisory nationwide and that California state law requires stores there to post warning signs; she said, “so far they [Albertsons] have refused to do that.”

Speakers framed the request as a public-health and right-to-know issue. Gorman described the pathway of mercury in ocean food webs: larger predatory fish can accumulate higher concentrations as they eat smaller, contaminated fish, increasing exposure risk for consumers who eat those larger species. Clevenger said the Good Food Store began posting the advisory after seeing other retailers do so and described the signs as a retailer—s responsibility to inform customers.

There was no recorded government action or vote on the request in the provided transcript. Speakers said they hope Albertsons will post the FDA advisory on fish counters in Missoula; organizers also said posting is simple for stores and would help consumers make informed choices.

Details reported by speakers: Women—s Voices for the Earth purchased two samples (swordfish and tuna steak) from two Albertsons stores in Missoula for laboratory testing; speakers said many tested samples in a national study exceeded the FDA action level of 1 part per million for methylmercury. The transcript did not provide the specific lab results (numeric values for the Missoula samples) nor a response from Albertsons in the meeting record.