Urge the USDA to Protect Woman, Infants and Children from Mercury-laden canned tuna

Howka everyone, I know many of our people get WIC and I wanted to pass on this message I just received..


Urge the USDA to Protect Woman, Infants and Children from Mercury-laden canned tuna

Public Comment ends February 1, 2010

For more information please contact Buffy Martin Tarbox, Got Mercury Campaign Coordinator at buffy@gotmercury.org or 415-663-8590 x106

Methylmercury is a potent neurotoxin and an estimated 630,000 children born in the US are at risk each year from neurological defects due to mercury contamination, primarily as the result of consuming seafood high in mercury.

Low-income women enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) are allowed up to 30 ounces of chunk light tuna a week in their supplemental food packages. Studies have shown that "chunk light" or "light tuna" may contain mercury levels comparable to canned albacore tuna which has previously been eliminated from WIC.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is accepting public comments on revisions to the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) allowable food items list. With the help of our members like you and our partner organizations, Got Mercury was successful in removing canned albacore from WIC food packages and urges the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to remove all canned tuna. Tuna is the number one source of mercury in the American diet and providing canned tuna in WIC food packages is dangerous to the health of pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children.

Currently, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service is accepting public comments and we need to send a strong message to protect low-income women and children from the toxic effects of mercury in canned tuna.

Send a letter today to the USDA to let them know they need to be doing more to protect vulnerable women, infants and children from mercury-laden canned tuna and should remove all canned tuna from WIC food packages.

HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS: Public Comment ends February 1, 2010

1. Click Here
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480370d00


2. Enter your first & last name under "Submitter Information"
3. List "Private Citizen" as your "Organization"
4. Cut and Paste the sample comment letter under "Public Comment or Submission" or write your own

SAMPLE COMMENT LETTER

Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 520
Alexandria, Virginia 22302

Dear Director of Supplemental Food Programs Division,

RE: Docket No. FNS-2006-0037-0003

I am very concerned about "chunk light" or canned "light tuna" being included in food packages for women receiving assistance through the Women, Infants and Children program. Studies have shown that canned "light tuna" contains high levels of mercury, sometimes as high as canned albacore tuna. I applaud the USDA's decision to remove albacore tuna from WIC food packages due to mercury concerns and believe the USDA needs to do more to protect vulnerable women and children by removing all canned tuna.

Methylmercury is a known neurotoxin, with children being at greatest risks from its effects. As stated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency an estimated 630,000 children born in the US are at risk each year from neurological defects due to mercury contamination.

I would like to see the USDA take the following actions to reduce low income women and children's exposure to mercury:

• Eliminate all canned tuna from WIC food packages
• Offer canned fish alternatives such as canned wild salmon, anchovies, sardines and mackerel
• Embark on a public education effort in order to assist women in deciding which fish are healthiest for their diet

Sincerely,


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