Looks like there's something fishy about some of the most popular brands of fish oil supplements. A lawsuit filed in California earlier this week claims that many leading fish oil manufacturers are peddling products packed with toxic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds, despite labeling that states the products are "treated" and are safe from PCB contamination. Eight companies are on the hook: CVS Pharmacy, Inc.; General Nutrition Corp. (GNC); Now Health Group, Inc.; Omega Protein, Inc.; Pharmavite LLC (Nature Made brand); Rite Aid Corp.; Solgar, Inc.; and TwinLab Corp.

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that continue to be a significant environmental hazard despite having been banned since the 1970s. PCBs are classified as a probable human carcinogen. Exposure has been linked with liver cancer, skin rashes, liver damage, irregular menstrual cycles, lowered immune response, fatigue, headaches, coughs and poor cognitive development in children.

Continue reading Fish oil supplements packed with PCBs ›

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There's nothing fishy about fish oil supplements. A new study shows that Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may boost brain power—a benefit roughly equal to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger, according to researchers. This finding lands atop established research showing that DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) in fish oil can lower triglycerides, slow the buildup of arterial plaques and lower blood pressure.

But stinky, slimy fish oil ... Gulp. Really? Yes, really. Similar benefits have been touted for ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) found in nuts and vegetable oils, the scientific evidence is less compelling and the benefits may be less pronounced.

Supplements also allow you to dodge concerns about mercury and PCB contamination in fish. Contaminants aren't much of a concern in quality-controlled products, notes a recent report in The New York Times, and the Environmental Defense Fund offers a page where you can review quality tests of dozens of U.S.-manufactured fish oil supplements.

Not a fan of fish? A good supplement gets the medicine down with no stinky smell or slimy taste at all. We recommend Nordic Naturals—a little pricey, admittedly, but impeccably clear of contaminants and free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives as well as gluten, yeast and dairy derivatives. Not only is the taste and smell inoffensive, but even picky eaters and kids who balk at pills and liquids give a thumbs-up to the children's products. (We know a certain little girl who comes running, squeeing with delight, at Omega-3 Fishies time.)

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Momentum continues to build in worldwide efforts to eliminate toxic chemicals still commonly used in farming and industry. Representatives from more than 160 countries approved a groundbreaking amendment to the Stockholm Convention last week that bans nine toxic farming and industrial chemicals. The persistent organic pollutants were added to a list of 12 chemicals already targeted to be reduced or phased out.

Donald Cooper, executive secretary of the Stockholm Convention, summarized why these particular substances are exceptionally dangerous:

• They cross boundaries and are found everywhere, from the tropics to polar regions.
• They persist for long periods in the atmosphere, soil and water.
• They take years to degrade.
• They accumulate in bodies.
• They accumulate in food chains.

The toxins can damage reproduction, mental capacity and growth and cause cancer, Cooper said.

The nine chemicals slated to be phased out are: Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane; Beta hexachlorocyclohexane; Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether; Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether; Chlordecone; Hexabromobiphenyl; Lindane; Pentachlorobenzene; and Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride.

In other moves, the conference made further progress against environmental toxins on additional fronts:

• Okayed a groundbreaking collaboration between the Stockholm Convention and other treaties (the Rotterdam and Basel Conventions) focused on hazardous chemicals and waste.
• Supported continued reductions of DDT while recognizing that some countries will continue to use this pesticide for protection from malaria and other diseases.
• Endorsed the PCB Elimination Network, providing a cooperative framework for phasing out and disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls.

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High on the hill in Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery, the tomb of the unknown gourmet has carved upon it this simple epitaph: "Don't eat the fish."

It makes you pause and ponder.

Somebody with a sense of humor was responsible, I'm sure—somebody who can laugh away a case of fatal food poisoning. Was the fish spoiled, I wonder? Was it contaminated with mercury? Dioxin? PCBs? Or was it some particularly virulent strain of salmonella?

Improper food handling is the leading cause of food poisoning. The best way to avoid seafood-borne illness is to buy fresh, and pay attention to handling and preparation. I love fresh seafood, but I can't always find it. Our home in the midwest is a long way from the beach. Sadly, most of the fresh water fish around here, particularly walleyes, contain dangerous levels of methylmercury, a neurotoxin that can seriously impair brain development in children. Pregnant mothers are advised against eating these fish. While I'm as macho as the next guy and I scoff in the face of foodie danger, I must admit that I generally avoid our local freshwater fish too.

Complicating our concerns for food safety are the issues associated with sustainability. Monterey Bay Aquarium sponsors a website called Seafood Watch that has up to date information on the US seafood market, with tips on what to buy and what to avoid. Naturally there's also an iPhone application, so if you're faced with a complex menu choice, or you want to know if your sushi is sustainable the information is right at your fingertips. The info is also available in a variety of formats from the Blue Ocean Institute.

I think if you're walking the tightrope of eco-consciousness and food safety where seafood is concerned, the best thing to do is find a fish market you trust to be on that same path. Otherwise, as the man said, "Don't eat the fish."

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Media Scare of the Month #142: Mother’s breast milk is full of environmental contaminants capable of causing harm to our babies. True? Yes—but nobody recommends not breastfeeding because of it. According to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, testing infants from virtually anywhere in the world today would uncover a body burden of industrial toxins including dioxins, PCBs, mercury, phthalates, pesticides, fire retardants, bisphenol-A (BPA) and other toxins.

But it’s not just breast milk that’s in danger: environmental toxins are everywhere. Because testing breast milk is a cheap and convenient way to look for chemical contamination, it is often used as an easy way to demonstrate the toxic load of our bodies overall. “Chemical residues found in breast milk are like the messenger, the canary in the mine, telling us about the body burdens found in everyone,” WABA relates.

Human milk is hands down the best bet for babies, even considering contaminants. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reminds mothers not to let media attention on environmental toxins scare them away from breastfeeding. “Breastfeeding is still recommended despite the presence of chemical toxins,” the agency reports. “To date, effects on the nursing infant have been seen only where the mother herself was clinically ill from an toxic exposure.”

Moms who are concerned about contaminants in human milk should not to stop breastfeeding their children, but rather advocate for reducing environmental contaminants worldwide. National advocacy groups such as MOMS–Making Our Milk Safe mobilize mothers across the country to increase awareness of environmental toxins and protect our families from their effects.

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For many of us, buying organic 100% of the time is simply too darn expensive. Is it really necessary? In some cases, definitely—but in others, not so much. The penny-pinchers among us have found a pragmatic way to make our organic shopping lists.

It's all about knowing what foods are likely to bear the heaviest load of toxins and chemicals. Take berries, for instance: they’re notoriously high in residues that can’t be peeled or easily washed away. But any pesticides on bananas are likely to land in the trash can along with the peel.

Another factor in your decisions will be why you're choosing organic. In terms of personal health, "organic" isn't always the key to the cure; for instance, mercury content in fish is more of a concern than whether the fish is certified "organic."  It's still best to avoid what problems (and pesticides) you can. “After all, these are chemicals that were designed to cause harm,” Aaron Blair, a National Cancer Institute epidemiologist who studies links between pesticides and cancer risk, told Eating Well magazine. “Let me put it this way. If you had a choice, you wouldn’t add them to food at the table.”

Choose Organic

• Produce Peaches, strawberries, apples, bell peppers, spinach, pears, nectarines, potatoes, grapes (imported), celery, nectarines, red raspberries. This produce is consistently tainted by pesticide residues, even after washing, and many types are difficult or impossible to peel/scrub clean.
• Meat, eggs and dairy Beef—a higher risk for mad cow disease.
• Eggs and dairy products Watch out for effects from hormones, antibiotics and non-organic feed used in production.
• Baby Food Prepared baby foods, including condensed fruits and vegetables and processed meats, potentially concentrate pesticide residues and toxins.

Worry Less About

• Seafood  Even fish labeled “organic” can contain high levels of toxins like mercury and PCBs.
• Cosmetics Most toxic ingredients are chemicals, not agricultural ingredients.

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