Study: FDA Seafood Standards Flawed

October 24, 2011

A study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that because of outdated assessment methods and assumptions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) standard for certain carbon compounds is seafood is off 10,000 times.  The study also contends that current federal standards underestimate the risk to pregnant women and children of cancer-causing contaminants that can accumulate in seafood from oil spills.

The group is requesting that the FDA enact a rule that sets a limit on the amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons deemed safe for pregnant women and young children.  However, the FDA and Florida Department of Agriculture, and Consumer Services officials stand by their testing methods.  They stress that seafood from the gulf harvested in areas reopened since the spill and those that were never closed, remain safe.

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