FishScam.com

This article is part of the Center for Media & Democracy's spotlight on front groups and corporate spin.

FishScam.com is one of the many projects of Rick Berman's Center for Consumer Freedom, a front group for the restaurant, alcohol and tobacco industries. [1]

FishScam.com argues that the safe level of mercury in fish is the EPA's Base Dose Lower Limit (BDLL) not the "reference dose." The reference dose is calculated on the lowest dosage of mercury that may cause nerve damage and is set at one-tenth of the BDLL to account for variables such as body size and allow a margin of safety.

Where groups campaigning for stricter limits, testing and advice on mercury in fish have set web-based calulators based on the reference dose, FishSCam.org's equivalent calculator is based on the BDLL.

The director of food policy at the nonprofit Consumers Union, Jean Halloran, told Village Voice that FishScam's campaign was irresponsible. "What Berman is essentially saying is that there's no need to have a margin of error. It's really extraordinary and extremely irresponsible. Many people have educated themselves about this issue, but I'm concerned that less-educated women who don't realize he is industry-funded will take his advice." [2]

SourceWatch resources

• Defending the consumption of farmed salmon
• Marine Stewardship Council
• Mercury in Fish Sold in the U.S.
• Rick Berman
• Center for Consumer Freedom

Contact Information

Fish Scam
Center for Consumer Freedom
1775 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20006

Phone: 202-463-7112
Website: [Fish Scam]

External links

• Jim Motavalli, "Don't Worry, Eat More Fish", "e-magazine.com", accessed January 10, 2008.
• Sam Roe and Michael Hawthorne, "The Mercury Menace", Chicago Tribune, December 11, 2005.
• Center for Consumer Freedom, "Hooked on Mercury Hype?: Chicago Tribune, New York Times Ads Offer an Antidote to Fishy Mercury Fears", PR Newswire, December 19, 2005.
• Bruce Gellerman, "Mercury in Fish: Casting Caution to the Wind?", Living on Earth, January 13, 2006. (Program includes David Martosko of the Center for Consumer Freedom, Dr. Leo Trasande of Mount Sinai Medical School and journalist Sam Roe of the Chicago Tribune.)
• Aina Hunter, "Mercury in Fish? Baloney!: Lobbyist tells pregnant women to eat more tuna", Village Voice, January 17th, 2006.
• Marian Burros, "Advisories on Fish and the Pitfalls of Good Intent" New York Times, February 15, 2006.

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