Artur Davis Also Cares About Catfish.

by: mooncat

Tue May 15, 2007 at 13:06:17 PM CDT

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I'm kind of glad I don't eat catfish anymore. Congressman Artur Davis has asked the FDA for tougher inspection of catfish imported from China. Rep. Davis and Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks held a joint press conference on this subject yesterday. The catfish controversy started last month when Sparks issued a 'stop sale order' on imported catfish after samples tested positive for a banned antibiotic (fluoroquinolones). Then Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III jumped on the bandwagon by cosponsoring an amendment (to S.1082) increasing the FDA's authority over imported seafood, including catfish.

Just to muddy the waters, last week the medical director of the Mississippi Poison Control Center said that the antibiotic found in the catfish does not pose a health risk unless you eat a lot of catfish. Like, 220,000 pounds. That's even more than the fish lovers in my family eat.

All this catfish concern is interesting because at one time Artur Davis was thinking of challenging Sessions in 2008 and recent buzz is that Ron Sparks is considering a run against Sessions. If either Sparks or Davis decides to run, the catfish producers of Alabama will be in a real quandary over who to back. They all care about catfish.

mooncat :: Artur Davis Also Cares About Catfish.

Tags: Catfish, Agriculture, Ron Sparks, Artur Davis, (All Tags)

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Artur Davis Also Cares About Catfish. | 2 comments

Ron Sparks (0.00 / 0)

Kos just posted excerpts from a Roll Call story over at DailyKos

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is leaning hard on him to take on Sessions, and Alabama insiders believe Sparks could jump in the race as early as next month.

Sounds like the DSCC is getting interested in a Sparks/Sessions matchup.

Work harder and work smarter!

by: mooncat @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 15:13:19 PM CDT

I think that Mississippi Poison Control Center person is muddying the waters, alright! (4.00 / 1)

Google fluoroquinolones and the first two hits are pretty alarming. My first reaction to hearing about this antibiotic in catfish was "Is this going to breed resistant germs?" Well, yes it is. This stuff has been in veterinary use in Europe where it has been implicated in the appearance of resistant strains of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.
It has also been linked to tendon rupture (if the person is also taking a corticosteriod such as cortisone).
Cipro is a second generation fluoroquinolone. It has been the last resort big gun drug for use against resistant infections (it is also effective against anthrax). But for how much longer? Antibiotics have been in general use, AFAIK, for around 60-70 years and have contributed substantially to worldwide health. People do not inevitably die of the same infections that they once did. There is a price to be paid, and it will soon come due, because by using these wonder drugs as animal feed the human race has been breeding germs which can shrug off these wonder drugs! Evolution happens! And its victims are probably the last to know...
The Great Chinese Catfish Cacaphony is NOT about people being poisoned! It is not about pets being poisoned! IT IS ABOUT MAKING MEDICINES WORTHLESS!
Bless Ron Sparks and his stop sale order. All hope is not lost.

"The War in Iraq is not the disease. The War in Iraq is a symptom. Arrogance is the disease" - Bill Richardson

by: herding old cats @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 21:00:42 PM CDT