Canned Tuna Too High in Mercury, Government Warning Inadequate, Health Group Warns
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is criticizing the government's draft of recommendations on safe fish consumption, especially by pregnant women, nursing mothers, and women who might become pregnant. The group contends that the varieties of fish listed on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) draft fall short and advise on dietary intake of a certain kind of fish may find pregnant women lacking in omega-3 fats they need.
As a rule, fish represents a good source of dietary protein and fats, but rising concerns on pollution of our waterways have alarmed the government and concerned groups that certain fish may contain high mercury levels toxic to neurons in the brain absorbed from polluted waters. This is especially risky healthwise to groups mentioned, not to mention detrimental to development of fetus in the womb.
The government's draft of recommendations merely says for these groups of women to avoid four high-mercury-containing fish as king mackerel, swordfish, tilefish, and shark; consume no more than six ounces of white or albacore tuna per week, and keep intake of any other fish and shellfish at a maximum of 12 ounces in a week. It goes on to list types of fish which contain lower levels of mercury, namely salmon, canned light tuna, cod, tilapia, and catfish.
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The EWG points out that the recommendations do not go far enough, putting the risk groups in more danger of taking in unsafe levels of mercury while not getting the necessary omega-3 fatty acids in fish. Specifically, the group indicates that canned light tuna is listed as a lower-mercury-level fish despite reports that have found in it high levels of mercury. To drive home the point, it mentions that canned light tuna is even on the National Resources Defense Council's (NRDC) list of seafood with high mercury content. With all this, vulnerable groups may have only risked their health with canned light tuna intake without realizing it only contains limited amounts of omega-3 fats.
The group also suggests that the government agencies putting the draft together should update their work with the list of suggestions put forward by the public, including the EWG. Moreover, knowing that mercury takes some time to clear out of the body's systems, the draft should also advise women desiring to get pregnant to avoid eating too much of high-mercury fish for at least six months before getting pregnant.
In contrast, the government-issued dietary guidelines for Americans reflect a specific list of lower mercury level seafood and does not ambiguously suggest to consume "any other fish." The list includes herring, sardines, salmon, Pacific oysters, anchovies, and trout.
Mercury is known to interfere with the brain and nervous system when found in high levels in the body. An unborn baby whose brain is still developing may be born with mental retardation or experience developmental delays growing up.
