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E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
AG Sues Restaurants Over Mercury in Tuna, Swordfish and Shark |
Groups support lawsuit requiring mercury warnings for seafood |
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, Apr. 11 -/E-Wire/-- On Thursday, Attorney General Bill Lockyer's filed lawsuits against nearly 20 California restaurants for not warning about mercury in seafood, after an earlier lawsuit prompted changes by grocery store chains. Health and environmental groups supported the Attorney Generals' claims and urged restaurants to warn the public.
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"Consumers have a right to know what contaminants are in their food that can cause harm," said Jane Williams of California Communities Against Toxics.
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The AG's complaint alleges that restaurants have violated the "disclosure before exposure" provisions of Proposition 65 to known reproductive toxins like mercury. Filed in Superior Courts in San Francisco and Los Angelos, the lawsuits seeks to force restaurants to warn customers that swordfish, Ahi (Yellowfin) tuna, Albacore tuna and shark -- and to prohibit sales of seafood until they post warnings.
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"Mercury in seafood presents an exposure risk, especially to pregnant women, the fetus and young children," said Michael Bender of the Mercury Policy Project. "Consumers need information about mercury in seafood in order to make informed choices."
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The lawsuit was filed against Benihana, Brinker International, Darden Restaurants, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, McCormick & Schmick Management Group, Morton's Restaurant Group, Outback Steakhouse, Porterhouse of Los Angeles, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Bennigans, Cheesecake Factory, Claim Jumper Restaurants, Hof's Huts, Landry's Restaurants, Metromedia Restaurant Group, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, TS Restaurants and Yard House Restaurants.
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New evidence indicates that low levels of mercury may cause damage. Data from the Centers for Disease Control indicates that 8 percent of women have mercury levels considered unsafe, translating into more than 325,000 children born each year in the U.S. at risk from exposure to mercury.
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The AG's earlier lawsuit was filed against Safeway, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Albertsons whom in February agreed to start placing mercury warnings at fish counters.
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For more information:
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/04/11 /BA235988.DTL http://www.mercurypolicy.org
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