430 



This, in effect, is a summary of the high spots. Yon will find within 

 the prepared text a broader description of onr projects. 



I will be happy to answer any questions. 



Mr. Lennon. Do you recall approximately when the Food and Drug' 

 Administration approved this protein ? 



Dr. Jacobs. I think that was in February 1967. 



Mr. Lennon. In that connection, I think it important to get from 

 the Bureau of Conunercial Fisheries the actions in sequence from the 

 Bureau of Fisheries affecting the fish protein concentrate legislation 

 and the administrative implementation of that act since they were 

 officially advised of certification from the Secretary of Health, Educa- 

 tion, and Welfare and the approval of the Food and Drug Administra- 

 tion as food. 



(The information appears on p. 413.) 



Mr. Lennon. With the establishment of the Marine Science Council 

 under the actions we have referred to that became law June 21 of last 

 year, there was an Ad Hoc Committee on Marine Toxicology and 

 Pharmacology formed under the auspices of that Council. You were 

 designated, I believe, as chairman of that committee ? 



Dr. Jacobs. Originally it was Dr. Milo D. Leavitt, Jr., whom I 

 succeeded. 



Mr. Lennon. You are presently in that capacity now ? 



Dr. Jacobs. Yes. 



Mr. Lennon. Would you just briefly, sir, give us the substance of the- 

 responsibility and objective of this particular ad hoc committee? 



Dr. Jacobs. Originally, Mr. Chairman, the committee was estab-^ 

 lished to function as a subcommittee under the Food From the Sea 

 Committee, which is chaired now by Mr. Waters. 



We have been concerned with the problems involved in toxic mate- 

 rials in fi^h which might be present in mixed catches of fish processed 

 for FPC. We are trying to find out how much work has gone on in 

 this field; to stimulate work in identifying toxins which are found in 

 reef fishes, in puffer fish and in other types of fish ; and to find means 

 to analyze fish protein concentrate to make sure no toxin is present 

 and to make sure tliat the extraction procedures used in fish protein 

 concentrate are adequate to remove any toxin which may be present. 

 It is not that anybody is concerned about the presence of toxins in fish 

 protein concentrate prepared from hakelike fishes caught in cold 

 waters. But as Mr. Waters told you, they are anticipating the devel- 

 opment of fish protein concentrate plants elseNvhere, and the use of 

 those plants might be prejudiced unless we knew the kinds of fish they 

 were going to process which might contain some of these toxins. 



It was an anticipatory move. I might say there is work going, on 

 in Hawaii supported by the Public Health Service, various parts of 

 the Public Health Service, on fish, toxins. More work is contemplated. 

 We ha.ve a handle now on ciguatera toxin. At least it looks as if it 

 is being j^urified enough so that we will be able to study its chemical 

 and physical characteristics. 



The Committee on Marme Pharmacology and Toxicology no longer 

 has connection with the Food from the Sea Committee because its 

 scope is now larger. It now includes pharmacology. The Committee is 

 attempting in various ways to collate information on research projects 



