URGENT-FALL 1997

Earth Island Institute calls for BOYCOTT of KROGER TUNA

Kroger Company Supports Dolphin Deadly Cannery in Mexico! In the late 1980's, U. S. consumers, led by hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren, carried out a successful nationwide boycott of "dolphin-unsafe" tuna. As a result, consumers won strong U.S. dolphin protection laws and a "dolphin-safe" tuna label, based on the Earth Island Institute criteria. That victory is currently being undermined by the Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kroger Company.

Kroger Brand Tuna includes tuna processed at Agroindustrias Rowen in Ensenada, Mexico. This cannery is "dolphin-unsafe" because it currently processes tuna caught by injuring and killing dolphins. Agroindustrias Rowen and Kroger have repeatedly refused to adopt Earth Island's "dolphin-safe" tuna standards. The Earth Island standard is recognized and accepted around the world as the only certifiable and verifiable regime which insures canned tuna is truly "dolphin-safe". This standard is based on two criteria:

1) Tuna cannot be caught by chasing, harassing or netting dolphins. "Dolphin-safe" tuna also cannot be caught through the use of driftnets.

2) In order to be "dolphin-safe", tuna must be supplied by canneries that agree to only process tuna caught without chasing or netting dolphins. Canneries supplying tuna to "dolphin-safe" companies must agree to open their facilities to independent monitors, such as those provided by the Earth Island International Monitoring Program.

Kroger is not honoring U.S. consumer's demands by refusing to adopt Earth Island's 100% "dolphin-safe" tuna standard. Their supply sources in Mexico currently refuse to cease processing dolphin-unsafe tuna, and refuse to allow monitoring. National supermarket chains, such as Safeway, Lucky's and Ralph's, and major U.S. tuna companies such as BumbleBee, StarKist and Chicken of the Sea have adopted the Earth Island standard. These companies are actively committed to being 100% "dolphin-safe"; their tuna comes from canneries that only process "dolphin-safe" tuna. Why won't Kroger do the same?

When you pick up a can of tuna and see the "dolphin-safe" tuna label it should mean "100% dolphin-safe." It shouldn't reward companies who also deal in tuna caught by killing dolphins. Kroger needs to hear from you! If the American public can't trust Kroger with something as important as selling only 100% 'dolphin-safe' tuna for their own Kroger Brand Tuna, then what's next? If Kroger wants U.S. consumers' trust it should abide by the hard won demands for truly "dolphin-safe" tuna. If you care about dolphins BOYCOTT Kroger Brand Tuna until they pledge to adopt a 100% "dolphin-safe" policy.

Three Things You Can Do For Dolphins

Call the Toll-Free KROGER FOOD INFO HOTLINE 1-800-632-6900

Tell Kroger to stop buying tuna from canneries that perpetuate the dolphin slaughter.

Write to Mr. David Dillon, the President of Kroger.

Tell him you won't buy Kroger Brand Tuna until Kroger acts responsibly. Tell him to commit to Earth Island's dolphin-safe policy.

Write to:

Mr. David Dillon, President The Kroger Company 1014 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45202-1119

Ask the manager of your local Kroger why his store is selling tuna from a Mexican dolphin-unsafe cannery, and why Kroger refuses to adopt 100% dolphin-safe policies?

SAVE THE DOLPHINS AND THE "DOLPHIN-SAFE " TUNA LABEL!