The federal government is alerting women who are pregnant, may
become pregnant or are nursing, and parents of young children to
watch what fish and shellfish they eat.
The federal government is alerting women who are pregnant, may become pregnant or are nursing, and parents of young children to watch what fish and shellfish they eat. The federal Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency have issued an advisory concerning mercury in fish and shellfish. While fish are generally beneficial, some can contain levels of mercury that can be passed to unborn babies and young children. Mercury can harm their developing nervous systems.
Fish and shellfish contain essential nutrients, omega-3 fatty acids and protein and are low in saturated fat. The general consumer’s fish consumption does not pose a danger.
Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and is released by industrial pollution. It can accumulate in water, where it is absorbed by nearly all fish. It can build to high levels in certain fish, depending on what they eat.
For more information, visit the FDA food safety Web site www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sea-mehg.html or the EPA Web site at www.epa.gov/ost/fish.
Fish tips
To help women and young children receive the benefits of eating fish while limiting mercury exposure:
1. Do not eat: shark, swordfish,king mackerel, tilefish
2. Eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury:
• The five most common include: shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish
• Albacore (white) tuna, has more mercury than canned light tuna. Limit to 6 ounces per week.
3. Check advisories about the safety of fish caught in local waters.
If no advice is available, limit to 6 ounces per week and do not consume any other fish that week.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
