FDA: Chemical dispersants used in gulf oil spill don't hurt seafood safety

[DCBob]

from the Wash Post..

Chemical dispersants sprayed into the Gulf of Mexico to break up the massive oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon disaster do not appear to threaten the safety of seafood in the affected waters, the Food and Drug Administration said this week.

In a letter sent in response to questions from Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), the agency responsible for ensuring the safety of seafood said that chemicals used to break up the slicks are not as dangerous to human health as the oil itself.

FDA scientists do not believe that the chemicals accumulate significantly in the tissue of fish and shellfish, and so, even if the fish absorb the chemicals through gills or other ways, the fish do not retain them, Jeanne Ireland, FDA's assistant commissioner for legislation, wrote to Markey. That means they do not pass up the food chain to humans and are not considered a public health concern, according to the FDA.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/06/AR2010080603185.html

This is very good news but I suspect the gloom and doomers wont believe it.

[truedelphi]

1. This is science? Where is the science?

To know the full effects of a chemical on animal and plant life, you need to examine the affected animals and plant life for YEARS!

It has been a little over 100 days since the Spill occurred.

This is junk science, but then that Monsanto Clone, Mike Taylor, heads the FDA, thanks to Obama needing to be allied with every Big Industry out there. (And who in American Industry is bigger than Monsanto?)

[HCE SuiGeneris]

2. Click your heels 3 times and you're home!

Hurrah for the omniscient FDA! We should all just "believe"!

[NC_Nurse]

3. Sorry, I don't trust the FDA. Have they TESTED the seafood? Sounds like they're just

basing this on conjecture.

Remember, the FDA, like most U.S. regulatory agencies, waits until there is a problem and THEN decides to investigate. Then, if you're lucky, you might be able to win a lawsuit when you become sick from something they SAID was safe. Or not, like the 9/11 responders - so much for the advice of the EPA on that one.

Probably still full of Bush appointees and being influenced by BP propagandists.

Guess I'm a gloom and doomer.

[Desertrose]

6. Sure they tested it...they gave it the "smell test"....

Cause the EPA said so!

Don't you feel safer now? Well heck, I know I sure do.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

4. Same people who approved aspartame...

...I'm sure they'd never steer us wrong.

[BeFree]

5. Alternatively

The FDA announces that the chemical soup in the gulf has polluted all seafood.

None of it will be safe to eat for decades.

But the FDA did drop their "Don't eat too much fish because of" their mercury advisory.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Let's invite then to dinner down here, and see how they really feel.

Sounds like they need a dose of real Southern hospitality.

[lib2DaBone]

8. Chemicals are GOOD for you... eat your oil sludge.....

you don't want to be called a "doom and gloomer".... do you?

[Curmudgeoness]

9. Gloom and doomer checking in here.

If you feel safe eating seafood from the gulf right now, or in the near future, go for it. I am hoping I am wrong if you do decide to eat it. I am not that trusting.

[DCBob]

15. not sure I would want to eat it now either but that does not mean FDA is wrong.

FDA cant test every fish, crab, shrimp, etc. and who knows what unknown effects these contaminants might cause. I think it will take some time before we can be sure all Gulf seafood is safe.

[Curmudgeoness]

17. On the other hand, it does not mean FDA is right. nt

[DCBob]

21. What bugs me is that many people mindlessly dismiss anything positive about this situation.

and immediately assume its a BP paid for conspiracy and lie. That's an absurb reaction.. imo.

[Curmudgeoness]

24. We all really would like to have good news, and believe it.

But this situation begs for questions. When you think of all the chemicals in that water, you are best to be cautious.

I will however concede that there are areas on the gulf coast that have not been affected by the spill and chemical use. And the seafood from those areas probably are still safe.

[DCBob]

28. agreed. nt.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. According to my astrologer, gulf seafood contains dangerous amounts of DHM.

Apparently those bastards at NOAA are big shills for the DHM industry.

Well sir, I ain't having no chemicals in my food.

It's straight laetrile and collodial silver for me.

[G_j]

11. gloom & doomer wants to see the science... nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. I doubt it.

[DCBob]

13. you cant handle the science.

[G_j]

14. and is there a purpose

to your tag team attack?

[DCBob]

16. no need to tag team you..

[G_j]

20. OK

you obviously are implying that I am anti-science in some way.
Got an example?

[DCBob]

23. I did assume that but perhaps I am wrong.

I have no examples.. just a knee-jerk reaction to your post.. most comments like yours do belong to people who are anti-science.. imo. Sorry if Im wrong in your case.

[G_j]

26. I asked the same question earlier in the week

where is the report the EPA cited in it's findings?
I'm not a scientist, but I'd like to at least see it.

[DCBob]

27. I dont know but it should be available somewhere.. its a govt report and it should be public record.

I will try to find it and post it if I locate it.

[EFerrari]

18. Oh, I believe the FDA will say what they need to say.

That doesn't make me a gloom and doomer. That makes me someone who can learn from experience. lol

[depakid]

19. You eat it then!

:9

I trust the FDA on this about as far as I trust the MMS to regulate oil drilling.

[anarch]

22. well of course...I mean, it's basically soap, and soap is good for your health

hell, you're supposed to wash your food...this is just, like, your food being washed from the inside...it's probably actually healthier than eating nasty, unwashed food! Those stupid doom and gloomers need to get with the program and stop worrying about anything...they need to go buy some shit or something, and relax. Watch some TV. Don't worry about it.

[Canuckistanian]

25. Woohoo! Shrimp Cocktails for everyone at the FDA!

What? They're refusing delivery?

[Quantess]

29. The FDA is worthless.

The FDA turns a blind eye on high levels of lead in fruit juice, melamine in food products from China --yet-- they feel the need to "protect us" from pharmaceuticals made in Canada.

The FDA needs to regain a little more credibility before I will trust ANYTHING they say.