April 22, 2008
TOP Food & Drug, Haggen Food & Pharmacy Stores
First in Region to Certify Seafood as Low in Mercury
TOP Food & Drug and Haggen Food & Pharmacy stores have become the first supermarkets in the Pacific Northwest to offer Safe Harbor mercury-tested and certified seafood.
Seafood sold with the Safe Harbor seal is certified to have a mercury level that is among the lowest available for each species. All Safe Harbor-certified seafood meets a stricter standard than what has been set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). No other supermarkets in Washington and Oregon offer the Safe Harbor certification.
“Seafood is an important part of a healthy diet since it provides a lean source of protein and is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids,” said Russ Casteel, seafood buyer for TOP Food and Haggen stores. “For any customers concerned about current government standards, Safe Harbor-certified seafood goes the extra step with testing that assures them of low-mercury content.”
The Safe Harbor technology (www.safeharborfoods.com) was developed by Micro Analytical Systems, Inc. (MASI) and is both rapid and highly accurate with sensitivity close to 10 parts per billion. In 2006, MASI tested more seafood for mercury than the FDA has reported testing in the past 30 years. The testing process takes a small sample from a fish and quickly analyzes it for mercury content.
In 2007, MASI conducted more than 30,000 mercury tests on seafood sold at retail today. The company found a significant number of fish with mercury content above the FDA action level is being sold to consumers. Also, MASI found that mercury levels can vary significantly among fish in the same species.
Haggen, Inc. is introducing Safe Harbor-certified seafood at all 33 of its supermarkets in Washington and Oregon under the TOP Food & Drug, Haggen Food & Pharmacy and Larry’s Market names. Headquartered in Bellingham, Haggen, Inc. is the sixth-largest private company based in the state of Washington.
For more information about seafood and mercury, visit the EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/ and the FDA’s website at www.cfsan.fda.gov/seafood1.html.