Probably won't pass, but every action that brings more attention to the potential health risk is important. Notably absent is my Alderman, Natarus, who is instead crowing about how he is going to stop the evil street musicians from troubling passers-by with evil sounds of music. Hey, Burt - we like street musicians! Anyway, kudos to Burke, Rugai, and Hairston for actually attempting to protect the residents of the city.
Chicago Tribune | Mercury warnings pushed for tuna cans
Chicago grocery stores would have to put warning labels for mercury on cans of tuna and other seafood under a proposal made Wednesday by three aldermen.Citing a recent Tribune investigative series, Alds. Edward Burke (14th), Virginia Rugai (19th) and Leslie Hairston (5th) said their plan would protect consumers, particularly those buying canned light tuna.
..
fter a City Council meeting, Burke said there is precedent for city regulation involving a product sold nationally. During the term of Mayor Michael Bilandic, the council barred the sale of detergents containing phosphates, a move designed to improve water quality, he said.“The Congress diddles around and goes on year after year after year,” Burke said. “This body can move swiftly and establish standards.”
Burke, chairman of the Finance Committee, said the plan would require all fish packages to carry a standard warning advising at-risk groups to avoid certain seafood, including tuna. Fines could be $200 to $1,000.
The proposal cites several findings of the Tribune series, including how the tuna industry uses a high-mercury tuna species, yellowfin, to make about 15 percent of the 1.2 billion cans of light tuna sold annually.
Tags: Chicago
