10% of tuna at sushi bars unfit to eat, report says

10% of tuna at sushi bars unfit to eat, report says
BY GARY WISBY Environment Reporter
Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
August 31, 2006



Pregnant, or planning to be? Don't eat tuna when you go out for sushi.

That was the urging of researchers who on Wednesday released a study that found dangerous mercury levels at 10 top Chicago-area sushi restaurants.

Seventy percent of samples exceeded the mercury threshold at which Illinois advises women of childbearing age -- and young children -- not to have more than one serving a month.

"Toxic Tuna," a report by Environment Illinois and California-based GotMercury.org, said 10 percent of the tuna sushi samples they tested shouldn't be eaten by anyone -- man, woman or child -- because they had more mercury than the FDA's "actionable level." That's the level that would prompt the feds to seize the contaminated fish.

The report names seven restaurants in the city and one each in Lombard, Schaumburg and Wheeling. But Environment Illinois' Max Muller said the intention wasn't to point fingers at specific sushi spots, but at tuna sushi in general.

Muller and Eli Saddler of GotMercury.org said sushi restaurants should post warnings about their fare, either voluntarily or by legislative mandate.

Consumer Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, went even further in July, recommending that pregnant women avoid eating all tuna.

'Billions in costs to society'

Mercury causes decreased IQs and mental retardation in fetuses and young children, said Dr. Peter Orris of the University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Public Health. If sources of mercury pollution -- including coal-fired power plants and mercury-laden products that are disposed of improperly -- aren't curbed, "personal tragedies and yearly billions in costs to society will continue to mount," he said.

Colleen McShane, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association, still reeling from the City Council ban on foie gras, said, "This is another cry for . . . overregulating restaurants."

Many restaurants already post advisories against pregnant women eating uncooked foods, she said. If customers want further warnings, "restaurants will absolutely respond," McShane added. "The customer sure isn't complaining."

gwisby@suntimes.com