THIS IS IMPORTANT TO VEGETARIANS
The FDA is proposing a new rule that will allow ALL, that's right, ALL food products to contain up to 5% FISH oil. Once fish oil has been added to dairy and other vegetarian foods, they will no longer be vegetarian. They will have the health dangers of fish most of us wish to avoid.
This will make it hard for us to eat vegetarian and to avoid fish oil in restaurants.
But it gets worse!! It won't be labeled "fish oil." It will be labeled "OMEGA 3"
Vegetarians might soon be eating fish oil in cheese, yogurt, milk, ice cream, baked

goods, cereals, peanut butter, pastas, fruit juice, snacks and jams without knowing this. Vegetarian or vegan food will no longer fit that category.
Why is FDA doing this? Because fish oil contains essential fatty acids such as Omega 3.
Fish oil is dangerous. Omega-3 is healthy. To label fish oil as "Omega-3" is misleading and makes something potentially dangerous sound healthy.
Remember, Government regulators (FDA, USDA, NIH) warn consumers that consumption of fish can be dangerous, and should be limited.
What is dangerous about fish oil? All fish have harmful substances in their flesh from our toxic waters. When big fish eat little fish which have consumed still smaller fish, more pesticides (including DDT), heavy metals, dioxins,and other dangerous chemicals concentrate in their flesh. The portion of fish oil you eat in these foods will probably contain thousands of doses of these toxins. If you are eating many products a day which contain fish oil, you build up a high concentration of the above toxins, without ever eating fish or even realizing you are eating the oil from fish.The apparent fish of choice is the bony/oily fish mehnaden. These fish are now harvested for use as fish meal, bait, and fertilizer. They are high in Omega-3 fatty acids but have been considered unfit for human consumption.
Now FDA is going to allow the food industry to feed these fish to us in any food, probably as "OMEGA-3 fortified."
Those foods that aren't fortified won't look as healthy as those which are fortified. Another obstacle to overcome for vegetarianism.
We are not helpless. We can still register our disapproval with our letters and emails.

Please write FDA. It can be as short as the following subject line and paragraph:
Subject Docket 67-FR-8744
American consumers have a right to know what they are eating. Fish oil can be dangerous. Omega-3 can be healthy. To label fish oil as "Omega-3" is misleading. I oppose this.

You MUST include the docket number so that your letter becomes a part of the FDA file. Remember to give your name and city, state.
CONTACT INFORMATION: http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments
Lawrence Lin
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Food and Drug Administration
5100 Paint Branch Parkway
College Park, MD 20740-3835
202-418-3103