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Report: Popular L.A. Sushi Isn't Safe
KCAL9 ^ | Mar 6, 2006 6:45 am US/Pacific

Posted on 03/06/2006 1:29:34 PM PST by BenLurkin

(CBS) LOS ANGELES The safety of tuna sushi has been questioned by a public health advocacy group that performed tests on the delicacy from Los Angeles restaurants, it was reported Monday.

In January, GotMercury.org purchased sushi from five top Zagat-rated restaurants in Southern California, as well as from the Benihana Inc. chain, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The organization had the fish tested at CRG Marine Laboratories in Torrance, according to the newspaper.

The mercury levels in the 12 tuna samples averaged double the Food and Drug Administration’s standard, and a quarter of the orders were near or above the limit where the agency says fish should not be old, Eli Saddler, a public health analyst and attorney for GotMercury.org, told The Times.

"Eating sushi has become the new Russian roulette," said Saddler, whose client questioned the FDA’s system of monitoring the mercury levels in fish. "Our testing shows a pattern of mercury levels being significantly higher than what the FDA reports."

The samples came from some of Southern California's most popular restaurants -- Matsuhisa, Sushi Katsu-ya, Sushi Sasabune, HamaSaku, Sushi Nozawa and Benihana, according to The Times.

Small amounts of mercury can be found in nearly all fish and the chemical is linked to reduced brain development in fetuses and young children


TOPICS: US: California
KEYWORDS: food; losangeles; publichealth; sushi
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1 posted on 03/06/2006 1:29:37 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin
"The safety of tuna sushi has been questioned by a public health advocacy group that performed tests on the delicacy from Los Angeles restaurants, it was reported Monday."

She begs to differ.


2 posted on 03/06/2006 1:30:39 PM PST by jdm
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To: BenLurkin
Skip the Sushi and go straight to Sashimi Yumm! With Mercury, double yumm!
3 posted on 03/06/2006 1:31:28 PM PST by Lx (Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)
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To: BenLurkin

I don't know about this. You'd think that if LA sushi was really dangerous, there would be millions of insane Californians out there supporting every liberal cause that came down the pike...


4 posted on 03/06/2006 1:32:24 PM PST by Onelifetogive (* Sarcasm tag ALWAYS required. For some FReepers, sarcasm can NEVER be obvious enough.)
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To: BenLurkin
For a real kick, try the fugu.


5 posted on 03/06/2006 1:33:33 PM PST by Alouette (Psalms of the Day: 35-38)
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To: BenLurkin

What happens to the mercury when the fish is cooked? "Cooked" tuna is generally served nearly raw. Why pick on sushi?


6 posted on 03/06/2006 1:34:18 PM PST by FreePaul
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To: BenLurkin

Why, what an incredible coincidence!  A group called gotmercury, finding mercury lurking in a consumer product!  You'd almost think they'd be predisposed to finding high levels of mercury just to garner publicity and thus increased funding.  But I'm not that skeptical...

Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)

7 posted on 03/06/2006 1:34:27 PM PST by End Times Sentinel (In Memory of my Dear Friend Henry Lee II)
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To: BenLurkin
Looks safe to me....

Image hosting by Photobucket

8 posted on 03/06/2006 1:35:26 PM PST by digger48
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To: jdm

Sushi = bait.


9 posted on 03/06/2006 1:35:55 PM PST by TXBSAFH (Proud Dad of Twins, What Does Not Kill You Makes You Stronger!!!!!!)
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To: BenLurkin

The mercury is what makes tuna sushi taste so yummy. I ate a lot last night. I hope the wasabi and pickled ginger are mercury heavy too.


10 posted on 03/06/2006 1:36:39 PM PST by dennisw (Muslim's biggest enemy is the founder of Islam, Muhammad. Muslims are victims of this conman-)
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To: Owl_Eagle
Yes. You are right.

And they aren't concerned about the danger from parasites which accompanies the consumption of raw fish.
11 posted on 03/06/2006 1:37:35 PM PST by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: jdm

That stuff would be GREAt on the grill.


12 posted on 03/06/2006 1:38:18 PM PST by yobid (Never forget Waco - tanks for the memories)
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To: BenLurkin

If you knew Sushi, like I know Sushi...........


13 posted on 03/06/2006 1:38:31 PM PST by Red Badger (And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him...)
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To: Owl_Eagle

Yep... Since environmentalists have been known to falsely plant lynx hairs in a forest in order to get it declared to be a protected lynx habitat, why should anybody believe that an enviro group would refrain from planting mercury in specimens of tuna prior to sending them to a lab?


14 posted on 03/06/2006 1:40:06 PM PST by The Electrician ("Government is the only enterprise in the world which expands in size when its failures increase.")
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To: BenLurkin

NEWS FLASH: Eating raw fish possibly unsafe! DOH.


15 posted on 03/06/2006 1:40:10 PM PST by KarinG1 (Some of us are trying to engage in philosophical discourse. Please don't allow us to interrupt you.)
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To: digger48
Looks safe to me....

She probably wiggles too much on the grill. Spills most of it.

16 posted on 03/06/2006 1:40:27 PM PST by Ramius (Buy blades for war fighters: freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net --> 1100 knives and counting!)
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To: Owl_Eagle

And notice that their spokesman is an attorney!!

Can anyone spell "Class Action Suit"?


17 posted on 03/06/2006 1:40:40 PM PST by Ole Okie
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To: BenLurkin
a quarter of the orders were near or above the limit where the agency says fish should not be old(sic)

Most sushi restaurant patrons will eat sushi made from a variety of different fish, not just tuna, and Japanese food typically has smaller portion sizes, so a person will probably only consume an ounce or so of tuna in a meal -- much less than if he ate a tuna steak somewhere.

Is there a difference in mercury levels of different varieties of tuna or in different parts of the fish?

18 posted on 03/06/2006 1:42:11 PM PST by heleny
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To: BenLurkin
You'll get my Spicy Tuna Roll out of my cold dead mouth!
19 posted on 03/06/2006 1:43:55 PM PST by Mike Darancette (In the Land of the Blind the one-eyed man is king.)
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To: Red Badger
If you knew Sushi, like I know Sushi...........




You're showin' your age, friend...
20 posted on 03/06/2006 1:45:09 PM PST by StoneGiant (Power without morality is disaster. Morality without power is useless.)
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