Oysters

NFI is advising reporters and editors to treat the claims made earlier today by CSPI with skepticism October 6, 2009 Washington - The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is advising reporters and editors to treat the claims made earlier today by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) regarding food-borne illnesses, including fresh tuna and oysters, with skepticism, and further urges them to contact NFI directly for comment. Among other things, CSPI's list ranks foods based on number of outbreaks rather than number of reported illnesses thus distorting which foods are associated with actual risk of illness. Seafood is a safe and healthy product that is an essential part of the American diet. CSPI has a history of attempting to scare consumers by playing fast and loose with definitions that might mislead the casual reader. For further details, reporters and editors should consult the following entries on NFI's media blog: Things to Consider When Covering CSPI's Latest Report and An Outbreak of Distortion. It is important to note that by focusing only on the FDA, the CSPI report simply ignores beef, chicken and pork-the proteins Americans eat the most of and a category CSPI admits is ‘high risk' for food-borne illness.  Reporters and consumers should take this report with a grain of salt and a heaping helping of perspective, that's why NFI recommends getting your health and food safety information from doctors and dietitians not the lawyers and lobbyists who work for CSPI. For more than 60 years, the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and its members have provided American families with the variety of sustainable seafood essential to a healthy diet. For more information visit: www.AboutSeafood.com. ### Contact Information:  Gavin Gibbons (703) 752-8891 ggibbons@nfi.org

I usually point to the benefits of eating fish and shellfish for the insides of our bodies - brain function, heart health, prevention of dreary diseases like macular degeneration.  But today I'm going to get superficial.  Nutrients in seafood including omega-3 fats, high-quality protein, and zinc help keep your scalp moisturized and your hair strong and full of color.  Salmon and oysters both made WebMD's list of top ten healthy hair foods. 1.  Salmon 2.  Dark green veggies

Research Underway Finds Fats in Oysters May Repress Cancer Growth October 13, 2008 Washington, DC –Louisiana State University (LSU) research released today finds ceramides, fat compounds found in oysters, appear to “arrest breast cancer cells grown” in lab tests. “The LSU work is an example of how seriously researchers take the role the foods we eat play in cancer prevention,” said Jennifer Wilmes, a registered dietitian with the National Fisheries Institute. “It was just this summer that a Columbia University study concluded eating seafood may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.” According to Dr. Jack Losso of LSU’s Department of Food Science, who led the research, ceramides are also currently being used in clinical trials to help speed the healing process for patients undergoing chemotherapy. “We’ve known for a long time that oysters are a food rich in iron and good fats. It’s only now that we are beginning to see their full potential to fight disease,” said Tom Kehoe president of K & B Seafood, a major oyster distributor in East Northport, New York. “As someone who’s married to a breast cancer survivor, this research has important meaning and exciting promise.” The release of the emerging research comes amid National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States.   For more than 60 years, the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and its members have provided American families with the variety of sustainable seafood essential to a healthy diet. For more information visit: www.AboutSeafood.com. ### Contact Information:  Gavin Gibbons (703) 752-8891 ggibbons@NFI.org