Protesters demand mercury warnings

The Idaho Statesman (Boise, ID)

ROCKY BARKERSTAFF

June 21, 2006

Group wants Albertsons' notice about danger of fish to be more prominent

Half a dozen protesters marched Tuesday around the plaque commemorating Joe Albertson´s first supermarket to protest the grocery chain´s lack of warnings about the dangers of mercury in fish.

Since last fall, Women´s Voices for the Earth has been working to persuade Albertsons to provide clearly visible warning signs at the fish counters in all of its stores nationwide.

SuperValu, which now owns all Albertsons stores in Idaho, released a statement Tuesday saying it recognizes consumer concerns about mercury in fish and has provided customers with brochures with the latest information from the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.

"Our company is committed to making sure that our associates and our customers have access to the most current and accurate information to help them make informed food choices when they shop with us," SuperValu said.

At the 16th Street store near downtown Boise, Albertsons has brochures sitting on the fish counter explaining the danger of mercury to young children and women who are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant. The brochure gives much of the same information that the women´s group wants shared with the public.

But in other Albertsons stores around Boise, the brochures are not as easy to find, said Maria Mabbutt , Idaho director of Women´s Voices for the Earth. "It´s hard to find, and isn´t a warning," she said.

Mabbutt wants large warning signs as required by law in California, where all grocery stores must post mercury advisories at the fish counter. Idaho does not have a similar law.

The group is focusing on Albertsons stores because Albertsons has been an Idaho-based company and is a large chain. But, Mabbutt said, the group wants other Idaho stores to display the same warnings, including Wal-Mart, Smith´s, Costco and Fred Meyer. "Safeway and Wild Oats post signs voluntarily," Mabbutt said.

The warning sign from California says pregnant and nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and young children should not eat swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish. Albertsons´ brochure says the same thing.

Albertsons´ brochure details FDA and EPA recommendations for selecting and consuming fish and shellfish for young children and women who are nursing or pregnant, or may become pregnant. The California warning sign simply says they should limit their consumption to other fish but adds that fish and shellfish are important parts of a healthy diet.

Both the Albertsons brochure and the California warning sign highlight other varieties of seafood that tend to have lower levels of mercury, including pollock, shrimp, scallops and canned light tuna.