American Notes: Food Safety

There's something fishy about the U.S. seafood industry, according to a new study that will appear in the February issue of Consumer Reports magazine. The study, carried out by investigative reporter Trudy Lieberman, found widespread contamination and mislabeling of seafood in retail fish shops and supermarkets in New York City and Chicago. Of the 113 random samples of fish purchased in both cities, 29% were spoiled and 44% were contaminated with fecal bacteria; 40% of the swordfish samples had an impermissible level of mercury.

The report gives ammunition to consumer advocates who argue for mandatory seafood inspection. At present, the handling of fish -- as opposed to poultry and meat -- is largely unregulated by the Federal Government. "The study is highly disturbing, because it further proves that contaminated seafood is readily making its way to consumers' plates," says Jodie Silverman of Public Voice for Food and Health Policy. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration disputed Consumer Reports' findings, arguing that the sample is too small to be significant.