U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA-823-F-04-008

March 2004

Backgrounder for the

2004 FDA/EPA Consumer Advisory:

What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish

Today’s Action:

• FDA and EPA are issuing a joint consumer advisory about mercury in fish and

shellfish. The advice is for: women who might become pregnant; women who

are pregnant; nursing mothers; and young children. This is significant

because it is the first time FDA and EPA have combined their advice into a

single uniform advisory. Previously FDA issued an advisory on consumption

of commercially caught fish, while EPA issued advice on recreationally caught

fish.

• FDA and EPA revised their existing advisories as a result of

recommendations FDA received from its Foods Advisory Committee (FAC) in

July 2002. At that meeting the FAC offered a number of recommendations

intended to improve the clarity and understandability of the then current FDA

advisory. One of the suggestions was that FDA and EPA combine their two

independent advisories.

• The criteria for the advisory was that it be based on sound science; is easy to

understand and apply; and protects the public health.

• The purpose of the advisory is to inform women who may become pregnant,

pregnant women, nursing mothers and the parents of young children on how

to get the positive health benefits from eating fish and shellfish, while

minimizing their mercury exposure.

Message to Consumers:

• Fish and shellfish are important parts of a healthy and balanced diet. They

are good sources of high quality protein and other nutrients. However,

depending on the amount and type of fish you consume it may be prudent to

modify your diet if you are: planning to become pregnant; pregnant; nursing;

or a young child. With a few simple adjustments, you can continue to enjoy

these foods in a manner that is healthy and beneficial and reduce your

unborn or young child’s exposure to the harmful effects of mercury at the

same time.
Key Parts of the Advisory:

• Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. Fish and shellfish

contain high quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated

fat and contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well balanced diet that includes a

variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children’s

proper growth and development. Thus, women and young children in

particular should include fish or shellfish in their diets due to the many

nutritional benefits.

• By following these 3 recommendations for selecting and eating fish or

shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish

and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the

harmful effects of mercury.

1. Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they

contain high levels of mercury.

2. Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and

shellfish that are lower in mercury.

• Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are

shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.

• Another commonly eaten fish, albacore (“white”) tuna has more

mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of

fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of

albacore tuna per week.

3. Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and

friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is

available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you

catch from local waters, but don’t consume any other fish during that

week.

• Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish and shellfish to your

young child, but serve smaller portions.

The Difference Between This Advisory and Previous Advisories:

1. The advisory emphasizes the positive benefits of eating fish.

2. The advisory provides examples of commonly eaten fish that are low in

mercury.

3. The advisory for the first time specifically addresses canned light tuna and

canned albacore (“white”) tuna, as well as tuna steaks (in the questions

and answers section).
4. The advisory recommends not to eat any other fish in the same week as

locally caught fish are consumed (the advice on the amount of locally

caught fish to eat is the same as in the 2001 EPA advisory).

5. The advisory contains a section that addresses frequently asked

questions about mercury in fish.

What the Risk is:

Research shows that most people’s fish consumption does not cause a health

concern. However, high levels of mercury in the bloodstream of unborn babies

and young children may harm the developing nervous system. With this in mind,

FDA and EPA designed an advisory that if followed should keep an individual’s

mercury consumption below levels that have been shown to cause harm. By

following the advisory parents can be confident of reducing their unborn or young

child’s exposure to the harmful effects of mercury, while at the same time

maintaining a healthy diet that includes the nutritional benefits of fish and

shellfish.

General Methylmercury Information:

• The methylmercury described in the advisory is not the same type of mercury

found in some thermometers or in dental amalgam.

• Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the environment and is also

released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury that falls from the air

can accumulate in streams and oceans. Bacteria in the water cause chemical

changes that transform mercury into methylmercury. Fish absorb the

methylmercury as they feed in these waters. Methylmercury builds up more

in some fish than others depending on what they eat how long they live, and

how high up the food chain they are.

• Fish and shellfish are the main sources of mercury exposure to humans and

that mercury is in the form of methylmercury. Other forms of mercury, such

as that in dental amalgams are minor contributors to human mercury

exposure.

General Dietary Advice:

• FDA recommends that consumers eat a balanced diet, choosing a variety of

foods including fruits and vegetables, foods that are low in trans fat and

saturated fat, as well as foods rich in high fiber grains and nutrients. Fish and

shellfish can be an important part of this diet.
What’s Next:

• FDA and EPA want to ensure that women and young children continue to eat

fish and shellfish because of the nutritional benefits and encourage them to

follow the advisory so they can be confident in reducing their mercury

exposure as well.

• FDA and EPA are planning a comprehensive educational campaign to reach:

women who might become pregnant; pregnant women; nursing mothers; and

young children. The agencies will work with state, local and tribal health

departments to get information out into their communities. Physicians, other

health professionals, and health care associations will be sent information to

distribute through their offices. Extensive outreach through the media is also

planned. Radio and television stations, health editors at newspapers,

magazines, and other popular media will be contacted to encourage them to

carry the public service message. The methylmercury advisory will also be

an important part of a comprehensive food safety education program to be

used by educators of pregnant women. FDA plans to launch the

comprehensive education program later this year.

• EPA and FDA have begun discussions on how to coordinate other scientific

assessments involving fish.

Other:

• FDA and EPA tested different versions of the revised advisory in 16 focus

groups in 7 different locations throughout the United States. Based on

responses we received we modified the advisory so that it is more easily

understood.

o In December 2003, after 8 focus groups had been conducted, a

draft of the revised advisory was presented to the Foods Advisory

Committee. Based on their feedback we conducted 8 additional

focus groups and modified the advisory according to the feedback

we received. The result is the 2004 FDA/EPA Consumer Advisory:

“What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish”.

• Since July 2002 FDA has tested over 3400 cans of tuna as well as 227 fish

samples, comprising 12 different species, for mercury. These results were

added to our previous sampling results.

• FDA continues to sample fish and shellfish, testing for mercury.
For More Information:

For more information about the risks of mercury in fish and shellfish call the

FDA’s Food Information Hotline toll-free at 1-888-SAFEFOOD or visit FDA’s

Food Safety website at www.cfsan.fda.gov/seafood1.html. For more information

about the safety of locally caught fish and shellfish, visit the Environmental

Protection Agency’s Fish Advisory website at www.epa.gov/ost/fish or contact

your state or local health department. Contact information for state and local

health departments is also found at this site.