Posted on 03/06/2006 1:29:34 PM PST by BenLurkin
(CBS) LOS ANGELES The safety of tuna sushi has been questioned by a public health advocacy group that performed tests on the delicacy from Los Angeles restaurants, it was reported Monday.
In January, GotMercury.org purchased sushi from five top Zagat-rated restaurants in Southern California, as well as from the Benihana Inc. chain, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The organization had the fish tested at CRG Marine Laboratories in Torrance, according to the newspaper.
The mercury levels in the 12 tuna samples averaged double the Food and Drug Administration’s standard, and a quarter of the orders were near or above the limit where the agency says fish should not be old, Eli Saddler, a public health analyst and attorney for GotMercury.org, told The Times.
"Eating sushi has become the new Russian roulette," said Saddler, whose client questioned the FDA’s system of monitoring the mercury levels in fish. "Our testing shows a pattern of mercury levels being significantly higher than what the FDA reports."
The samples came from some of Southern California's most popular restaurants -- Matsuhisa, Sushi Katsu-ya, Sushi Sasabune, HamaSaku, Sushi Nozawa and Benihana, according to The Times.
Small amounts of mercury can be found in nearly all fish and the chemical is linked to reduced brain development in fetuses and young children
Someone suggested it to me years ago, I almost forgot about it.
I need to take a road trip (any excuse to get out of the summer heat soon!).
It surprised me that there would be such a good sushi restaurant in Prescott, of all places. We've missed it since we moved to Utah, Papasan always treated us well... though he was a bit of a sadist, playing little games with how much wasabe he put in each piece of sushi. My luck, I always seemed to get the biggest surprise in the bunch.
sushi is best when cooked
I love it!
(and thanks for the heads up on Papasan's pranks...I'll keep it in mind!)
When we moved, he had been training another Itamae (maybe nephew-san?), and occasionally Papasan actually took some time off, contrary to his earlier practice. The quality remained high, however.
A word to the wise: don't cross Mamasan, she'll throw you out if you get out of hand.
Add wasabi and the red stuff in the squeeze bottle and the mercury boils off. Wash with Sapporo, repeat.
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