4-02-2001
DEAR SIR OR MADAME

YESTERDAY ON 3-30-2001, WHILE I WAS INVESTIGATING THE POSSIBILITY OF ADULTERATED SEAFOOD SALES IN THE VALLY AREA. I CHECKED STORES WHICH INCLUDED FRY'S ALBERTONS, WILD OTATS, AND SERVERAL OTHER INDEPENDENANT STORES. I FOUND AND PURCHASED IN YOUR STORE SEVERAL PACKAGES OF TUNA THAT HAD BEEN TREATED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE GAS AND WHERE BEING SOLD WITHOUT A PROPER LABEL. THEY ALSO HAD THE WORD "AHI" WHICH IS THE HAWAIIAN WORD FOR TUNA, I COULD ONLY SUPPOSE THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO IMPLY THAT IT IS A PROCUCT FROM HAWAII WHICH IS PART OF THE UNITED STATES NOT IMPORTED, WHICH IS ANOTHER LABELING VIOLATION.

I AM RELIABLY INFORMAED, THAT YOUR PRODUCT IS IMPORTED AND PROCESSED IN A PLANT THAT USES CARBON MONOXIDE GAS TO PRESERVE AND MASK THE TRUE GRADE OF FRESHNESS AND QUALITY.

IN MY OPINION, YOU ONLY USE THE WORD TASTELESS SMOKE IN ORDER TO CIRCUMVENT THE TRUTH AND LABELING LAWS.

I AM FURTHER DISTURBED BY THE ATTITUDE OF THE STORE MANAGER, MATT LEAR & HIS LACK OF CONCERN ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH. WHEN I APPROACHED THE STORE MANAGER AND TOLD HIM THIS PRODUCT (IN MY OPINION) WAS NOT PROPERLY LABELED AND WHEN CONSUMED BY SOME PEOPLE IT MAY BE HARMFULL TO THEIR HEALTH. I TOLD HIM I HAD PICTURES AND NEWS ARTICLES AND SOME DOCTOR'S WHICH SUPPORT MY OPINION AND STARTED TO SHOW HIM SOME LITERITURE TO SUPPORT MY BELIEFS. HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT, HE COULD CARE LESS, HE JUST SELLS WHAT HIS MERCHANDIZERS TELL HIM TO SELL.

I RETURNED ON 3-31-2001 AND TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES IN YOUR STORE SHOWING HOW YOU HAVE IT DISPLAYED AND LABELED. I ALSO PURCHASED SEVERAL MORE PACKAGES OF THE GAS TREATED PRODUCT FOR TESTING.

I WOULD ASK YOU AS A CONCERNED CITIZON FOR THE PUBLICS HEALTH AND SAFETY TO TAKE IT OFF YOUR SHELF AND IF YOU MUST SELL IT, ATLEAST HAVE YOUR VENDER PROPERLY LABEL IT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LABELING LAWS.

I WILL SHARE WITH YOU WHAT MAY BE A MORE APPROPRATE LABEL, SEE ENCLOSED.

IF I DON'T HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN 10 DAYS FROM THE RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER THAN WE WILL TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS LEGAL, REASONABLE AND NECESSARY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC AT VARIOUS SAFEWAY LOCATIONS BY PICKETING, HANDBILLING AND NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC OF OUR CONCERNS.

I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION IN THIS MATTER,
BY GLYNN ROSS