During the past few months we have had more than 32 cases of Salmonella illnesses associated with eating previously frozen, imported tuna sprayed with carbon monoxide to make it look fresh.

The State Department of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only made limited comments regarding the illnesses, either to defend themselves or deflect public questions on the subject.  They will not tell us the stores that the fish was purchased from, but some of the stores implicated are a few of the Foodland and Safeway grocery stores, Don Quijote, and the Navy Exchange. 

Some imported fish have been identified as a source of the illnesses, but the government has not publicly made a statement or told us if there is still a problem.  Yet,  as recent as May 1, 2008,  the Hawaii Department of Health issued a medical advisory to physicians about concerns that it may be continuing in the states of Michigan and Connecticut and Florida. Cases were in Colorado, Texas and California.

Do you believe the State of Hawaii Dept. of Health and the United States Food and Drug Administration should be more open in informing the public about the possibility of illness, including more details on who is selling the tainted fish?

Do you think carbon monoxide should be used in fish?

Do you think stores should be required to put in their ads the fact that  the product is treated with carbon monoxide?

Do you think the use of carbon monoxide in fish should be banned?