118 



r^aOROllCAU FoodkDntgreUqrhMfagl 



Just How Safe 

 Is That Seafood? 



Says a Report: 'Most Seafood Products 

 Are Wholesome and Unlikely to Cause 

 Illness. Nevertheless, There Are Risks.' 



And yci consumers havt also been bom- 

 barded in recent months by a steady supply develop legislauon \i 



. For thai poor-qualiiy seafood producu arc kepi 



insunce. in a very detailed repon last year, off the marteL 



Consumer Reporu concluded thai "much In recent years, I have introduced two 



fish IS unfu 10 eaL** bills nd held beanngs in the Senate Com- 



Thesc coniradiciory messages are re- meice Gxnmmec on the elements of an 



necied m nsing consuma cooccro about effecuve seafood safety program. WhUe 



the quality and safely of seafood and m the we have reached a consensus on much of 



Sen. Hollings-s bill would ^^^ZZl^^'Z^gZ 



establish a program to impicmoiL 



erasure that poor-quality ^^^ ^rJZ:,-::^Z 



seafood products are ml^je pan because odhe unique nature of 



kept off the market. 



arc me (ads'* In 1991. tiK Na- wtUivaryuig 



Demy of Sciences (NAS)iisue<l and food safely ciperusc Writtj 



ensivc repon whict concluded So in designmg any seafood safely pro- udinwl 



1 seafood producis are wtxile- gram. " """ ^ """ 



J unlikely 



federal spending on seafood safely lOQls 



S70 million annually and is divided 



agencies, die Food and Drag 



What is effective in 

 addressing safety 

 problems on a factory 

 trawler in the Bering Sea 

 may have little relevance 

 for a catfish farm in 

 southern Louisiana. 



(FDAI and l 



Nauonal 



(NOAA) In addiuon. itx ilalcs are esu- 

 spend an additional S20 mUlion 

 cad) year on seafood safely acuvities 



Currently, ti*o nauonal statutes provide 



auUwnly for federal seafood mspeclion; 



Food. Drag, and Cosmeuc Act 



FDA ilie general responsibility 



safety of all foods destined 



oimercc and tlie Agncul- 



Aclofl»46aUowsNOAA 



cany ( 



