[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 14 (Monday, January 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3363-3364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1234]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011805A]


The Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board; Orientation 
Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board will meet 
in Washington, D.C. The meeting agenda can be found in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

DATES: The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. and adjourn at 4 p.m. on 
Tuesday, February 1, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the National Academy of Sciences 
Lecture Room, 2100 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
    National Marine Fisheries Service/National Seafood Inspection 
Laboratory address: 705 Convent Ave., Pascagoula, MS 39567.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. Spencer Garrett, National Seafood 
Inspection Laboratory; telephone: 228-769-8964.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The committee's agenda includes the 
following issues: nutrient relationships in seafood - selection to 
balance benefits and risks.

Background

    Seafood contributes a variety of nutritional benefits to the 
American diet. They are sources of protein, calcium, iodine, copper, 
zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, some nutrients may affect 
bioavailability, toxico-dynamics, and target-organ transport, and thus 
affect the toxicological response to certain compounds. Contamination 
of marine resources, however, whether by naturally-occurring or 
introduced toxicants, is a concern for U.S. consumers because of the 
potential for adverse health effects. Human exposure to toxic compounds 
through seafood can be managed by making choices that provide desired 
nutrients balanced against exposure to such compounds in specific types 
of seafood that have been found to pose a particular health risk. 
Consumers, particularly subpopulations that may be at increased risk, 
need authoritative information to inform their choices. The National 
Marine Fisheries Service has contracted with the National Academies of 
Science to produce a report that will recommend approaches to decision-
making for selecting seafood to obtain the greatest nutritional 
benefits, balanced against exposure to potential toxicants and 
identifies data gaps and research needs. The study objectives will 
include:
    1. Identifying and examining the routes of entry of naturally-
occurring and introduced toxicants into the food supply, through 
seafood sources, and evaluating food consumption patterns of the U.S. 
population to estimate current levels of intake exposure.

[[Page 3364]]

    2. Assessing the evidence on availability of specific nutrients in 
seafood compared to other food sources and determine the impact of 
modifying food choices to reduce intake of naturally-occurring and 
introduced toxicants on nutritional intake and status within the 
population, including vulnerable population subgroups.
    3. Developing a decision path, geared to the needs of U.S. 
consumers, for selecting seafood to obtain maximal nutritional benefits 
while minimizing potential exposure risks.
    4. Identifying additional data needs and making recommendations for 
future research, including assessment of the mitigation effects of 
nutrients on toxicants in seafood.

Agenda

Tuesday, February 1, 2005

    1:00 p.m.: Welcome, Introductions, and Purpose of the Public 
Session
Presentations from the Sponsoring Agency
    1:10 p.m.: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service
    2:10 p.m.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and 
Drug Administration
    2:40 p.m.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    3:10 p.m.: Break
    3:30 p.m.: Open Discussion. Interested individuals and 
organizations are invited to present their views during this part of 
the open session. To be considered for a 3-minute presentation, please 
provide topic and contact information to Sandra Amamoo-Kakra no later 
than January 25, 2005, by fax (202) 334-236, or by email 
([email protected]).
    4:00 p.m.: Adjourn

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Helen Allen, 907-271-2809, at 
least five working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: January 18, 2005.
Emily Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-1234 Filed 1-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S