Cod liver oil polluted

Cod liver oil polluted

By Barry Healy

Friends of the Earth UK has demanded that the British government release details of which brands of cod liver oil are most contaminated by cancer-causing and hormone-disrupting PCBs and dioxins. This follows the release of official research that revealed dangerous levels of these contaminants in a range of fish liver oils.

The research shows that school children and toddlers who are given cod liver oil will exceed the government safety threshold, while adults taking it will push their exposure to the limit. Many scientists consider the government's threshold far too high.

Cod liver oil is sold as a food supplement, rich in vitamins A and D and long chain fatty acids.

Dr Michael Warhurst of Friends of the Earth said: "It is appalling that our seas are so contaminated that even the few remaining fish are loaded with so many chemicals that cod liver oil may now pose a long-term health risk. The government must take action to eliminate the release of cancer-causing and hormone-disrupting chemicals."

From GLW issue 282