The CFSAN Responds

I have posted about my label issue in the last two Sunday's Odds and Ends - it started with this one....

Carbon Monoxide?! - I have an issue with the fish I buy at Walmart.  I shop at Walmart because it has the lowest prices.  (I also shop at higher end grocers and health food stores, but only when I cannot find what I need at Walmart).  I have made my Walmart statements in the past, but I feel the need to reiterate.  The people that work there are EMPLOYED.  I know that they may not have the highest wages, but maybe the people who pay better would not higher these same people.  I also wonder if the employees are as unhappy as the antiwalmart folks claim that they are.  Seems like a good research study question to me.
That said - I am upset about the fish that I buy at the store.  I did not realize it was a Walmart product, but the Tilapia and Salmon have the exact same calories per gram - 100 calories per 113 g serving.  This is not possible because they do not have the same nutrient profile.  While looking at the label in order to find the contact information to alert them to this MISTAKE - I saw these words (on the tilapia) "carbon monoxide treated to retain coloring."  No kidding.  I am waiting to hear back from Walmart on both issues.  Next stop - FDA.  The FDA is in charge of safety and labeling.

And last night I wrote this:

FDA Update - No word from Wal-Mart regarding my two concerns about their fish so I composed and sent an email to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Outreach and Information Center today.  You see - I have gumption.

And today I received this response from the Center for Foods Safety and Applied Nutrition or CFSAN

Dear Ms. Dingman, the use of carbon monoxide is safe and has been used for meats for several years.  The gas does not cause an issue with the meat.  Under the regulations the manufacturer sets the serving size and is required to have accurate information on the label.  I don't know why they are using the same label information if it is not accurate.  They may be rounding and the counts may not be that dissimilar.
Ms. Jeannine Ertter-Prego
Consumer Affairs Specialist

I did ask her two or three more questions - but youget the gist of it - and no - I wasn't satisfied with either of those answers.