“Stop promoting fish’, charity tells FSA

Calls for a reappraisal of official advice encouraging consumption of fish and fish oils have been made in an open letter to Sir John Krebs, Chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The letter is accompanied by a copy of a new scientific report, [b]Fishing for Facts[/b], which challenges the claim that fish is essential for good health. It claims that there are dangers from toxins and shows that omega-3 oils from plant sources are much safer and healthier. In recognition of its public health importance, the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation (VVF) has circulated copies of the letter and the report to relevant politicians, academics, health and medical organisations, consumer groups, industry bodies and other interested parties (see below). It has also been placed on the VVF website (www.vegetarian.org.uk). The letter draws upon scientific research to challenge the rationale behind current FSA advice to eat two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily fish. In doing so, it summarises some key findings from the[b] Fishing for Facts[/b] report: [list] [*]All the omega-3 “good’ fats needed in the diet are easily available from plant oils.[/*] [*] Plant oils are twice as effective as fish oils in reducing heart attacks in high risk patients.[/*] [*] Most fish and fish oils are contaminated with a range of toxic chemicals.[/*] [*] The Consumers’ Association has warned that high levels of dioxins and PCBs in fish could put “millions at risk”.[/*] [/list] One of the most disturbing findings of the report is the contamination of most fish and fish oil supplements with toxic chemicals. Almost all fish contain detectable levels of mercury, dangerous to foetuses and immature central nervous systems. The FSA has already advised pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 16 not to eat some species of fish. Charlie Powell, VVF Health Campaigner says, “The public health strategy of promoting fish and fish oils to safeguard against heart disease is a failure. A more effective approach would be to encourage the adoption of protective, plant-based diets which are high in essential fats. “We are asking the FSA to revise its general pro-fish advice in order to take account of the health drawbacks of fish consumption”, explains Charlie Powell. “The research is clear – we simply do not need to eat fish for good health”. For further information, contact Charlie Powell, Health Campaigner, or Laura Scott, Senior Nutritionist on 0117 970 5190. Open letter of 20 October 2003 to Sir John Krebs, Chair, Food Standards Agency circulated to: Sir Donald Acheson KBE, President, Royal Institute of Public Health Peter Aldis, Managing Director, Holland & Barrett Richard Ali, Director of Food Policy, British Retail Consortium David Amess MP, Health Committee Member John Austin MP, Health Committee Member Norman Baker MP, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment Dr Jon Bell, Chief Executive, FSA Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Professor Colin Blakemore, Chief Executive, Medical Research Council Dr Roger Boyle, National Director for Heart Disease, Department of Health Mr Ben Bradshaw MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Nature Conservation and Fisheries) Mrs Yve Buckland, Chair, Health Development Agency Andy Burman, Chief Executive, British Dietetic Association Andy Burnham MP, Health Committee Member Simon Burns MP, Health Committee Member Paul Burstow MP, Health Committee Member Commissioner David Byrne, EC Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General Dawn Carr, Director, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Steve Costello, Chairman, General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland Nigel Crisp, Chief Executive, NHS Sue Croft, Director, Consumers for Health Choice Frances Cunning, Chair, Society of Health Education and Health Promotion Specialists Kath Dalmeny, Research Officer, The Food Commission Rt Hon David Curry MP, Chairman of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Clare Devereux, Research Officer, Food Matters Anne Dolamore, Chair, Guild of Food Writers Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health Andrew Dougal, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association Jim Dowd MP, Health Committee Member Julia Drown MP, Health Committee Member Professor Sue Fairweather-Tait, Head of Nutrition Division, Institute of Food Research Commissioner Franz Fischler, EC Fisheries Directorate-General Professor Charles Forbes, Chairman, Scottish Heart and Arterial Disease Risk Prevention Dr Liam Fox MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health Tina Fox, Chief Executive, The Vegetarian Society Peter van Gelder, Director, Westminster Diet and Health Forum Professor Sir Charles George, Medical Director, British Heart Foundation Mark Glover, Director, Respect for Animals Dr John Godfrey, Vice Chair, Consumers in Europe Group Margaret Goose, Chief Executive, Stroke Association Dr Huon Gray, President, British Cardiac Society Dr Sian Griffiths, President, Faculty of Public Health Dr Evan Harris MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director General, World Health Organisation Lucy Harris, Co-ordinator, Foodaware: The Consumers’ Food Group Dr David Hinchcliffe MP, Chairman of Health Committee Professor Richard Hobbs, Chairman, Primary Care Cardiovascular Society Richard Horton, Publisher, The Lancet Professor Ieuan Hughes, Chairman, Committee on Toxicity Dierdre Hutton, Chairman, National Consumer Council Rt Hon John Hutton MP, Minister of State for Health Professor Alan Jackson, Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition Professor Philip James CBE, President, Coronary Prevention Group Jennifer Jenks, Executive Director, The Coronary Arterty Disease Research Association Professor Tim Lang, Department of Health Management and Food Policy, City University Sylvia Jay, Director General, Food and Drink Federation Ros Jenkins, Chief Executive, National Heart Research Fund James Johnson, Chairman of Council, British Medical Association Tony Juniper, Executive Director, Friends of the Earth Andy Lebrecht, Director General, Food, Farming and Fisheries, DEFRA David Liddington MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Paul Lincoln, Chief Executive, National Heart Forum Michael Livingston, Director, Heart UK Jeanette Longfield, Co-ordinator, Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming Susanne Longstrup, Director, European Heart Network Angela Mawle, Chief Executive, UK Public Health Association Morris McAllister, Director, FSA Northern Ireland Siobhain McDonagh MP, Health Committee Member Professor Graham McGregor, Chairman, Blood Pressure Association Sheila McKechnie, Director, Consumers’ Association Graeme Millar, Chairman, Scottish Consumer Council Mr Elliot Morely MP, Minister of State (Environment & Agri-Environment) Dr Doug Naysmith MP, Health Committee Member Dr Daniel O’Hare, Chair, Food Safety Authority of Ireland Professor P Palmer, Chairman, The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health George Patterson, Director, FSA Scotland Dr Nich Pearson, Chairman, Welsh Consumer Council Professor Robert Pickard, Chair, British Nutrition Foundation Ralph Pike, Director, National Association of Health Stores Geoffrey Podger, Executive Director, European Food Safety Authority Ms Alice Quinn, Chair, Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland Lord Rae, Chairman, Associate Parliamentary Food and Health Forum Dr Mike Rayner, Director, British Heart Foundation Health Promotion Research Group Rt Hon John Ried MP, Secretary of State for Health Melanie Ruffell, Executive Secretary, Joint Health Claims Initiative John Rutherford, Chief Executive, Sea Fish Industry Authority Chris Ryder, Sea Fisheries Conservation, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Professor Tom Sanders, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Rick Savage, Chief Executive, The Vegan Society Joyce D’ Silva, Chief Executive, Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) Richard Smith, Editor, British Medical Journal Bill Stow, Director General, Environment, DEFRA Professor Dame Lesley Southgate, President, Royal College of General Practitioners Dr Richard Taylor MP, Health Committee Member Stephen Tindale, Executive Director, Greenpeace Andrew Tyler, Director, Animal Aid Julia Unwin, Deputy Chair, FSA Penny Viner, Director, Health Food Manufacturers’ Association Dr Andrew Wadge, Director of Food Safety Policy, FSA Mike Weir MP, Scottish National Party Spokesperson for Health Joy Whinney, Director, FSA Wales Caroline White, Chair, Guild of Health Writers Lord Whitty, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Food, Farming and Sustainable Energy) Hywel Williams MP, Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Health

About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.

View author page | View staff profile