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Seafood Category: The Latest News

OVERALL, SEAFOOD DEPARTMENTS SAID that questions about topics such as last year's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, radiation in Japan affecting seafood or mercury warnings issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are rare. But, when the seafood departments do receive those kinds of questions, it's important to be informed on the topic.

Regarding customer questions on the Gulf oil spill or radiation in Japan, Chuck Anderson, director of retail and new business at Sousa Seafood in Boston, said, “The question is there and the seafood people have to be able to answer that question. Even it's only two, and that's probably the number, just two or three per month, they need to be prepared to respond to those questions.”

The FDA offers extensive, recent information on the safety of seafood in the Gulf at www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety.

In response to questions on mercury consumption for pregnant and nursing women, Anderson suggests retailers explain the FDA advisory — which recommends pregnant women don't consume shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish and limit consumption of albacore tuna — but also note that, in general, seafood is good for infant development.