Posted June 19, 2014
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assured pregnant women and nursing women that they should include more seafood in their diets, according to an article on Wall Street Journal by Bonnie Rochman available here. The Boston Globe also published an article available hereand ABC WWSB7 here. A previous blog post on FDA’s seafood guidelines is available here.
The FDA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggest these women should consume between 8 and 12 ounces of seafood a week, which is equivalent to two to three meals, because the health benefits outweigh the likelihood of mercury consumption.
Government officials set a minimum recommended amount, instead of only a maximum, which has been criticized for not identifying fish with high amounts of omega-3 fats and minimal amounts of mercury. Most women restrict their intake or avoid consumption, because of mercury concerns, which can interfere with a baby’s development, according to Boston Globe.
In January, an Environmental Working Group analysis found that only salmon and albacore tune contained enough omega-3 fats in 8 ounces of fish to provide ideal health benefits during pregnancy. The analysis also revealed that albacore tuna contained too much mercury for pregnant women to safely consume.
“We have concluded that pregnant and breast-feeding women can increase developmental and health benefits to their children by eating more fish than they typically do,” said Dr. Stephen Ostroff, the FDA’s acting chief scientist, “while still protecting them” from harms caused by too much mercury.
The older or larger the fish, the more mercury it contains. Fish accumulate mercury in their bodies as they feed on smaller fish and other sea creatures, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Researchers advise to avoid tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico, shark, swordfish, and king mackerel, which are high in mercury, according to ABC WWSB7.
For a complete list of mercury levels in fish, visit the FDA’s site here.
To view the FDA’s updated guidelines, click here.
For more information on food labeling, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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