USA: FTC Petition Slams Salmon Ad Promoting Unsafe Food to Pregnant Women

Advocates and Scientists Fault Advertising Campaign Targeting Vulnerable Populations

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Contact:
Sarah Bruchmann
202-285-6385
sbruchmann@net.org

WASHINGTON, DC ? The Pure Salmon Campaign, an environmental and health advocacy group, today filed a truth-in-advertising complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against the trade association of farmed salmon producers for deceptive advertising that appeared in the New York Times Sunday Magazine encouraging pregnant women to eat chemical laden farm-raised salmon.

The six-page ad, paid for by the trade association Salmon of the Americas (SOTA), made extensive claims about the health benefits of farmed salmon for pregnant women and their unborn babies. The ad proclaims "Ocean-Farmed Salmon ? just what the doctor ordered" under a picture of a pregnant woman.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," said Dr. David Carpenter, Director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany's School of Public Health and co-author of the largest and most comprehensive study of toxins in farm-raised salmon. "Farm-raised salmon has been proven to contain high levels of PCB's and other chemicals that are harmful to developing fetuses and increase the risk of cancer to the mother. Farmed salmon is definitely not what the doctor ? at least this doctor ? would ever order for expectant mothers."

The Pure Salmon Campaign submitted a petition asking the FTC to stop SOTA from using false and misleading information in their ads. Dozens of scientific studies are cited to support its claim, including a peer-reviewed paper published just last year in the Journal of Nutrition. This study, a follow-up to the ground-breaking January 2004 study of toxins in farm-raised salmon in the journal Science, found that women of childbearing age, expectant and nursing mothers, and young children should minimize their consumption of farm-raised salmon in favor of other sources of omega-3 fats.

"I do all I can to protect the health of my baby; I watch what I eat, I don't smoke or drink alcohol, and exercise regularly. As a busy professional I rely on and expect food advertisements to help me find healthy food during my pregnancy," said Zoe Johnson, currently six months into her first pregnancy. "The government should protect expectant mothers like me from ads promoting unsafe food to pregnant women."

Last Fall, FTC Chairman Deborah Majoras declared in a speech at the European Competition and Consumer Day, that the FTC "has an active advertising enforcement agenda that focuses on preventing false or misleading health and diseases claims for foods...We focus on preventing these types of deceptive claims because they can cause harm not just to consumers' pocketbooks, but also their health." "Promoting unsafe products to pregnant women with the false claim that it is 'just what the doctor ordered' is not only illegal ? it's immoral," said Andrea Kavanagh, Pure Salmon Campaign Director. "We look to the FTC to take prompt action to protect the health of pregnant women and their unborn children."

A group of medical and public health professionals wrote a letter to Salmon of the Americas in December of last year expressing concerns with the advertisement saying, "We believe these claims misrepresent the real risks posed to women who plan to become pregnant at some time in their lives, and to their offspring. The disproportionate levels of contaminants in farmed salmon are not only linked to increased rates of cancer, but many are also neurotoxins that can lead to learning disorders and/or a reduction in the IQ of children exposed to them via the mother's body. It is irresponsible of Salmon of the Americas to make these claims in an effort to increase sales of their product."

"Our findings, and those of other scientists showing high levels of brominated flame retardants, PCB's and other chemicals in farm-raised salmon is a cause for concern," said Dr. Arnold Schecter, physician and Professor of Environmental Sciences, at the University of Texas's School of Public Health, Dallas campus. "As a physician, it is my general policy to recommend that women who are pregnant or nursing avoid foods contaminated with toxic chemicals."

The petition filed with the Federal Trade Commission and the medical and health professionals' letter are available at www.puresalmon.org. The Pure Salmon Campaign is a global project of the National Environmental Trust. It has partners in the United States, Canada, the European Union, and Chile all working to improve the way salmon is produced.

Source: FTC Petition Slams Salmon Ad Promoting Unsafe Food to Pregnant Women

Link: US Agency is asked to Look into Farmed Salmon Ad


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