Canned Tuna: Avoid if Pregnant? Canned Tuna: Avoid if Pregnant? Consumer Reports: Some Canned Tuna May Have Higher Mercury Levels Than Once Thought By Todd Zwillich From the WebMD Archives June 5, 2006 -- Recommendations published in the magazine Consumer Reports this week urge women to avoid eating any canned tuna while pregnant because of uncertainties about the risk of mercury contamination to developing fetuses. The recommendations are stricter than the federal government’s advice issued two years ago. Then, the FDA advised women and young children to limit -- but not avoid -- consumption of canned tuna because of contamination. But the magazine’s experts say women should avoid the popular item altogether because of FDA data showing that some canned tuna may have higher mercury levels than once thought. “What we did is take a closer look at the data,” says Urvashi Rangan, PhD, a toxicologist and a senior scientist at Consumer Reports. Higher-Than-Average Levels Canned tuna and most other fish and seafood contain some amount of toxic mercury that has worked its way through the food chain because of industrial pollution. In adequate doses the metal can damage the developing nervous system in fetuses and children.

The FDA specifically warns against the consumption of shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tile fish -- which have high levels of mercury -- by women who are nursing, or women who are pregnant or of childbearing age; the FDA warning also applies to young children. In 2004, the FDA urged women and young children to eat no more than 12 ounces of a variety of fish and shellfish with lower levels of mercury (including canned light tuna) or 6 ounces of white tuna (albacore) per week to minimize mercury risks. Canned light tuna on average contains lower mercury levels, the agency said. But the Consumer Reports analysis of the FDA’s data shows that 6% of cans of light tuna contained at least as much mercury as white tuna, also known as albacore. It wasn’t enough to skew the average beyond white tuna, but enough to warrant concern for pregnant women, Rangan says. “We’re not telling you not to eat tuna. But for pregnant women in particular where you are talking about potential fetal exposure -- and it’s an avoidable risk -- we’re saying go ahead and take some extra measures to reduce your Hg [mercury] exposure at all costs,” she tells WebMD.

Continued FDA Interpretation David Acheson, MD, chief medical officer of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition , says the agency does not dispute the magazine’s calculations. Acheson says that “a single dose of mercury is not good.” But he says that a years-long scientific review convinced the agency that there is little danger even if pregnant women eat canned light tuna with higher-than-average mercury contamination once in a while. “We are not aware of any science that would indicate that having an occasional meal at that level would cause any harm, and if that science is out there, I would love to see it,” Acheson tells WebMD. Consumer Reports urged women of childbearing age to limit tuna consumption to about three chunk-light cans per week or one can of white tuna (albacore) or solid-light tuna, since mercury can linger in the body even after you are no longer eating it. Six-ounce servings of lower-mercury seafood -- including salmon, tilapia, shrimp, and clams -- appear safe for daily consumption by women, the magazine said; three-ounce servings for small children up to 45 pounds also appear safe. Other Perspectives Joshua T.

Cohen, PhD, a lecturer at the Institute for Clinical Research at the Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston, says Consumer Reports was misinterpreting the significance of data showing that 6% of light-tuna cans exceed averages for higher-mercury white tuna. “What your body sees is the average [mercury dose] over several weeks. The idea that the departure above the average on one day is going to mean a bad health outcome is like saying that two slices of apple pie at Thanksgiving is going to lead to obesity ,” says Cohen, who authored a major study on the risks and benefits of fish consumption. The study was funded by food industry groups and the US Tuna Foundation, another industry group. A statement by the foundation said tuna has proven health benefits and that Consumer Reports had done “a great disservice” by using “incomplete facts.” Rangan says that more-than-usual caution is warranted for pregnant women. “We’re talking about exercising caution for a particularly vulnerable population with fetuses with vulnerable nervous systems. The fact of the matter is that it’s a preventable risk, so why when there are so many options, wouldn’t you want to minimize your risk of exposure,” she says.

WebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD on June 05, 2006 Sources SOURCES: Mercury in Tuna: New Safety Concerns. Consumer Reports, July, 2006. Urvashi, Rangan, PhD, senior scientist, Consumer Reports. David Acheson, MD, chief medical officer, FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. US Tuna Foundation. Joshua T. Cohen, PhD, lecturer, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts New England Medical Center. © 2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. Pagination Should Pregnant Women Eat Canned Tuna? Should Pregnant Women Eat Canned Tuna? We ask an expert to weigh in on this controversial debate. Your Privacy Rights It’s a debate that’s been going on forever: Should women who are expecting eat fish? And if so, how much? A new article in Consumer Reports recommends that pregnant women avoid tuna all together—but experts and other groups beg to differ. To fully understand the debate, it’s important to get to the heart of the matter first.

The basic problem at hand is that some fish can contain high levels of mercury, which research suggests may be harmful to a developing baby. Advertisement Get our new daily newsletter! You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy | About Us Earlier this summer, the FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft updated advice regarding fish-eating guidelines for pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding, women who may become pregnant, and children. The guidelines recommend that pregnant women eat at least eight ounces and up to 12 ounces of low-mercury fish per week (that’s about two to three servings). The reason is to support fetal growth and development, explains the FDA and EPA press release. It also recommends, however, that these women avoid four types of fish entirely—shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico—because the mercury content in them is too high. Plus, they recommend eating no more than six ounces of white tuna per week. Which brings us to the other side of the debate: The recent Consumer Reports article. Basically, the food-safety experts over there were skeptical about the new FDA and EPA recommendations and took a closer look at the FDA data.

Looking at that data, they identified about 20 types of seafood that pregnant women can eat without issue, but they disagreed with the FDA and EPA's stance on tuna: They don’t think pregnant women should eat any. “We’re particularly concerned about canned tuna, which is second only to shrimp as the most commonly eaten seafood in the U.S.,” says Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives for Consumer Union, the policy and advocacy sector of Consumer Reports. Keep in mind this doesn't mean there's any new data showing that canned tuna contains more mercury than previously realized or that new research proves pregnant woman should consume less than the FDA currently recommends; it just means that, given the popularity and the mercury content in most tuna, the experts at Consumer Reports think pregnant women should swap it out for lower-mercury options instead. MORE: The 5 Fish That Are the Most Contaminated—and 5 You Should Eat Instead So, um, can pregnant women eat tuna? We asked women's health expert Jennifer Wider, M.D., for her take, and she sides with the FDA and EPA on this one, though she says that it ultimately comes down to personal preference.

“Studies from the FDA and EPA have shown that light canned tuna can be safely consumed in limited qualities, so I think that if pregnant women have an occasional serving of light canned tuna, there will most likely be no detrimental effect on her baby," she says. "That said," she continues, "if you’re a nervous mom-to-be and want to avoid tuna all together, it may be wise to go for more low-mercury fish, like salmon, cod, tilapia, pollock, and shrimp,” she concludes. MORE: 9 Foods to Avoid While Pregnant See, light canned tuna has about 14 micrograms of mercury per four ounces of cooked fish, while white albacore tuna has about 40 micrograms, according to the FDA . So as long as you stick to light canned tuna, you're not consuming anything super-high in mercury. So there you have it! If the conflicting info gives you the jitters, it's fine to pass up tuna all together. But if you're a tuna fanatic, experts say it's okay have no more than six ounces of it per week—but stick to light canned tuna as it's lower in mercury. And of course, talk to your doctor if you're concerned.

Consumer Reports to pregnant women: Avoid tuna FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Consumer Reports to pregnant women: Avoid tuna Pregnant women should stop eating all forms of tuna, even the canned light variety, due to risks of mercury exposure, says Consumer Reports. Post to Facebook Consumer Reports to pregnant women: Avoid tuna Pregnant women should stop eating all forms of tuna, even the canned light variety, due to risks of mercury exposure, says Consumer Reports. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 9 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Consumer Reports to pregnant women: Avoid tuna Linda Lombroso, The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News Published 6:29 a.m. ET Aug. 27, 2014 | Updated 11:11 a.m. ET Aug. 27, 2014 Pregnant woman, mid section (Photo: moodboard Getty Images/moodboard RF) Pregnant women should stop eating all forms of tuna , even the canned light variety, due to risks of mercury exposure, says Consumer Reports.

The Yonkers, N.Y.-based organization's new report, "The Great Fish Debate," which appears in the October issue of the magazine — and is currently available online at — is based on its own analysis of the FDA's data on mercury in fish, said Dr. Michael Crupain, Consumer Reports' associate director of consumer safety and sustainability. According to the March of Dimes, babies who are exposed to mercury in the womb can have brain damage, vision and hearing problems. Consumer Reports' recommendations go against the latest guidelines from the FDA and the EPA on how much tuna pregnant women can eat safely. In June, the government agencies issued a federal proposal encouraging women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to become pregnant to eat between 8 and 12 ounces of seafood per week — and kept light canned tuna on their list of lower-mercury fish. But light tuna is not a good choice, said Crupain, due to a strong likelihood that it may contain high levels of mercury.

"We just don't think it's necessary for pregnant women to take any risks." For some doctors, Consumer Reports' new advisory is creating a quandary: Should they stick to the federal guidelines and continue to tell their pregnant patients it's OK to eat a little light tuna each week? Or should they reinforce the importance of fish and seafood to the developing fetus — but make sure their patients know of the new warnings? “Tuna is not on the list of low-mercury fish that we created because if you do the math, it ends up being above where we set the threshold for being a really low mercury fish.” Dr. Michael Crupain, Consumer Reports "The concern is that patients are going to see this and avoid all fish products, and then they won't have the benefit of getting the Omega-3 fatty acids, which have been proven to help with the neurologic development of the fetus,'' said Dr. Denis Sconzo of Westchester Bronx Ob/Gyn in Yonkers. "Seafood is a great source of lean protein and essential fatty acids for pregnant women," said Dr. Patricia Pollio, director of OB/GYN at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Suffern.

"I have always counseled my patients to avoid tuna steaks, shark and swordfish due to high levels of mercury, and have recommended up to two three-ounce servings per week of chunk light, not solid white, tuna. I will now have to counsel my patients that eating tuna is controversial." Consumer Reports' advisory extends to all forms of tuna, including yellowfin and big-eye tuna, also known as "ahi," often used in sushi. Tests found that many samples had as much mercury as shark and swordfish, which the FDA urges pregnant women to avoid. Canned light tuna contains about a third the amount of mercury of albacore tuna — often labeled in cans as solid white or chunk white — said Crupain. But neither is a good choice during pregnancy. "Our main concern with canned tuna, canned light tuna especially, is that about 20 percent of the data collected since 2005 by the FDA had levels of mercury in the tuna that were twice what the average is, so the probability of encountering some of those much higher levels of mercury is pretty high,'' he said.

Consumer Reports analyzed FDA data on mercury levels in fish released in 2011, and used EPA guidelines to calculate the safe amount for people to eat, said Crupain. "Tuna is not on the list of low-mercury fish that we created because if you do the math, it ends up being above where we set the threshold for being a really low mercury fish." The FDA, however, however, is standing by its recommendations, citing the health benefits of fish and seafood for pregnant women, young children and those who are breastfeeding. "The advice is based on new science indicating that eating more fish can have important growth and developmental benefits, and that these benefits can outweigh the risk of methylmercury exposure,'' said FDA spokeswoman Lauren Sucher in an email. The FDA currently has a list online, featuring the mercury content of commercial fish and shellfish. The agency welcomes comments on the issue, said Sucher, and will review all commentary received. "The Consumer Reports analysis is limited, in that it focuses exclusively on the mercury levels in fish without considering the known positive nutritional benefits attributed to fish,'' added Sucher, who said the way the organization did its research overestimated fish's negative effects and overlooked a "strong body" of recent scientific evidence.

But Crupain said Consumer Reports is not discounting the importance of fish in the diet. Its report includes a list of 18 low-mercury fish that are good choices, including wild and Alaska salmon, shrimp, sardines, tilapia, scallops and oysters. "What we're saying is we agree with the FDA that people, especially pregnant women and children, should eat fish, and we think their recommendations of how much fish to eat are good,'' he said. "We just think that when they eat fish, they should choose fish with the lowest mercury — but they don't tell them what the low-mercury fish are. They kind of leave it up to the public to figure it out themselves." "We think they should be giving consumers better advice about what low-mercury fish are, and that's what we've done." 5422 CONNECT TWEET 2 LINKEDIN 9 COMMENTEMAILMORE Read or Share this story: NEVER MISS OUT The Short List Let us bring the headlines to you every night. Stay current and catch up on the biggest stories of the day.

No tuna for pregnant women: Consumer Reports 47 CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN COMMENTEMAILMORE Pregnant women should stop eating all forms of tuna, even the canned light variety, due to risks of mercury exposure, says Consumer Reports . The Yonkers-based organization's new report , "The Great Fish Debate," which appears in the October issue of the magazine — and is currently available online at — is based on its own analysis of the FDA 's data on mercury in fish, said Dr. Michael Crupain, Consumer Reports' associate director of consumer safety and sustainability. According to the March of Dimes , babies who are exposed to mercury in the womb can have brain damage, vision and hearing problems. Consumer Reports' recommendations go against the latest guidelines from the FDA and the EPA on how much tuna pregnant women can eat safely. In June, the government agencies issued a federal proposal encouraging women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to become pregnant to eat between 8 and 12 ounces of seafood per week — and kept light canned tuna on their list of lower-mercury fish. But light tuna is not a good choice, said Crupain, due to a strong likelihood that it may contain high levels of mercury.

"We just don't think it's necessary for pregnant women to take any risks." For some doctors, Consumer Reports' new advisory is creating a quandary: Should they stick to the federal guidelines and continue to tell their pregnant patients it's OK to eat a little light tuna each week? Or should they reinforce the importance of fish and seafood to the developing fetus — but make sure their patients know of the new warnings? "The concern is that patients are going to see this and avoid all fish products, and then they won't have the benefit of getting the Omega-3 fatty acids, which have been proven to help with the neurologic development of the fetus,'' said Dr. Denis Sconzo of Westchester Bronx Ob/Gyn in Yonkers. "Seafood is a great source of lean protein and essential fatty acids for pregnant women," said Dr. Patricia Pollio, director of ob/gyn at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Suffern. "I have always counseled my patients to avoid tuna steaks, shark and swordfish due to high levels of mercury, and have recommended up to two three-ounce servings per week of chunk light, not solid white, tuna.

I will now have to counsel my patients that eating tuna is controversial." Consumer Reports' advisory extends to all forms of tuna, including yellowfin and big-eye tuna, also known as "ahi," often used in sushi. Tests found that many samples had as much mercury as shark and swordfish, which the FDA urges pregnant women to avoid. Canned light tuna contains about a third the amount of mercury of albacore tuna — often labeled in cans as solid white or chunk white — said Crupain. But neither is a good choice during pregnancy. "Our main concern with canned tuna, canned light tuna especially, is that about 20 percent of the data collected since 2005 by the FDA had levels of mercury in the tuna that were twice what the average is, so the probability of encountering some of those much higher levels of mercury is pretty high,'' he said. Consumer Reports analyzed FDA data on mercury levels in fish released in 2011, and used EPA guidelines to calculate the safe amount for people to eat, said Crupain.

"Tuna is not on the list of low-mercury fish that we created because if you do the math, it ends up being above where we set the threshold for being a really low mercury fish." The FDA, however, however, is standing by its recommendations, citing the health benefits of fish and seafood for pregnant women, young children and those who are breastfeeding. "The advice is based on new science indicating that eating more fish can have important growth and developmental benefits, and that these benefits can outweigh the risk of methylmercury exposure,'' said FDA spokesperson Lauren Sucher in an email. The FDA currently has a list online, featuring the mercury content of commercial fish and shellfish. The agency welcomes comments on the issue , said Sucher, and will review all commentary received. "The Consumer Reports analysis is limited, in that it focuses exclusively on the mercury levels in fish without considering the known positive nutritional benefits attributed to fish,'' added Sucher, who said the way the organization did its research overestimated fish's negative effects and overlooked a "strong body" of recent scientific evidence. But Crupain said Consumer Reports is not discounting the importance of fish in the diet.

Its report includes a list of 18 low-mercury fish that are good choices, including wild and Alaska salmon, shrimp, sardines, tilapia, scallops and oysters. "What we're saying is we agree with the FDA that people, especially pregnant women and children, should eat fish, and we think their recommendations of how much fish to eat are good,'' he said. "We just think that when they eat fish, they should choose fish with the lowest mercury — but they don't tell them what the low-mercury fish are. They kind of leave it up to the public to figure it out themselves." "We think they should be giving consumers better advice about what low-mercury fish are, and that's what we've done." Consumer Reports' list of lowest-mercury fish • Wild and Alaska salmon (canned or fresh) • Shrimp (most wild and U.S. farmed) • Sardines • Tilapia (choose domestic, if possible) • Scallops Canned Tuna: Avoid if Pregnant? Canned Tuna: Avoid if Pregnant?

Consumer Reports: Some Canned Tuna May Have Higher Mercury Levels Than Once Thought By Todd Zwillich From the WebMD Archives June 5, 2006 -- Recommendations published in the magazine Consumer Reports this week urge women to avoid eating any canned tuna while pregnant because of uncertainties about the risk of mercury contamination to developing fetuses. The recommendations are stricter than the federal government’s advice issued two years ago. Then, the FDA advised women and young children to limit -- but not avoid -- consumption of canned tuna because of contamination. But the magazine’s experts say women should avoid the popular item altogether because of FDA data showing that some canned tuna may have higher mercury levels than once thought. “What we did is take a closer look at the data,” says Urvashi Rangan, PhD, a toxicologist and a senior scientist at Consumer Reports. Higher-Than-Average Levels Canned tuna and most other fish and seafood contain some amount of toxic mercury that has worked its way through the food chain because of industrial pollution. In adequate doses the metal can damage the developing nervous system in fetuses and children.

The FDA specifically warns against the consumption of shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tile fish -- which have high levels of mercury -- by women who are nursing, or women who are pregnant or of childbearing age; the FDA warning also applies to young children. In 2004, the FDA urged women and young children to eat no more than 12 ounces of a variety of fish and shellfish with lower levels of mercury (including canned light tuna) or 6 ounces of white tuna (albacore) per week to minimize mercury risks. Canned light tuna on average contains lower mercury levels, the agency said. But the Consumer Reports analysis of the FDA’s data shows that 6% of cans of light tuna contained at least as much mercury as white tuna, also known as albacore. It wasn’t enough to skew the average beyond white tuna, but enough to warrant concern for pregnant women, Rangan says. “We’re not telling you not to eat tuna. But for pregnant women in particular where you are talking about potential fetal exposure -- and it’s an avoidable risk -- we’re saying go ahead and take some extra measures to reduce your Hg [mercury] exposure at all costs,” she tells WebMD.

Continued FDA Interpretation David Acheson, MD, chief medical officer of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition , says the agency does not dispute the magazine’s calculations. Acheson says that “a single dose of mercury is not good.” But he says that a years-long scientific review convinced the agency that there is little danger even if pregnant women eat canned light tuna with higher-than-average mercury contamination once in a while. “We are not aware of any science that would indicate that having an occasional meal at that level would cause any harm, and if that science is out there, I would love to see it,” Acheson tells WebMD. Consumer Reports urged women of childbearing age to limit tuna consumption to about three chunk-light cans per week or one can of white tuna (albacore) or solid-light tuna, since mercury can linger in the body even after you are no longer eating it. Six-ounce servings of lower-mercury seafood -- including salmon, tilapia, shrimp, and clams -- appear safe for daily consumption by women, the magazine said; three-ounce servings for small children up to 45 pounds also appear safe. Other Perspectives Joshua T.

Cohen, PhD, a lecturer at the Institute for Clinical Research at the Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston, says Consumer Reports was misinterpreting the significance of data showing that 6% of light-tuna cans exceed averages for higher-mercury white tuna. “What your body sees is the average [mercury dose] over several weeks. The idea that the departure above the average on one day is going to mean a bad health outcome is like saying that two slices of apple pie at Thanksgiving is going to lead to obesity ,” says Cohen, who authored a major study on the risks and benefits of fish consumption. The study was funded by food industry groups and the US Tuna Foundation, another industry group. A statement by the foundation said tuna has proven health benefits and that Consumer Reports had done “a great disservice” by using “incomplete facts.” Rangan says that more-than-usual caution is warranted for pregnant women. “We’re talking about exercising caution for a particularly vulnerable population with fetuses with vulnerable nervous systems. The fact of the matter is that it’s a preventable risk, so why when there are so many options, wouldn’t you want to minimize your risk of exposure,” she says.

WebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD on June 05, 2006 Sources SOURCES: Mercury in Tuna: New Safety Concerns. Consumer Reports, July, 2006. Urvashi, Rangan, PhD, senior scientist, Consumer Reports. David Acheson, MD, chief medical officer, FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. US Tuna Foundation. Joshua T. Cohen, PhD, lecturer, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts New England Medical Center. © 2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. Pagination USATODAY.com - 'Consumer Reports' warns women about canned tuna 'Consumer Reports' warns women about canned tuna Updated 6/6/2006 5:49 PM ET E-mail | Print | By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY Pregnant women should not eat canned tuna because a small percentage contains levels of methyl mercury as high as fish the Food and Drug Administration recommends pregnant women never eat, a Consumer Reports article warns Tuesday.

Most cans of light tuna contain on average 0.12 parts per million of mercury, while white or albacore tuna has on average about 0.35 parts per million. But 6% of light-tuna cans tested exceeded the average for white or albacore, some as high as 0.85 parts per million. "FDA says pregnant women should never eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish," says Consumer Reports' Jean Halloran. King mackerel averages 0.73 parts per million mercury, lower than some tuna, the FDA says. "So if you were so unfortunate as to get one of these occasional high-mercury cans of tuna fish, you could get a mercury level comparable to a fish that FDA says you should never eat" if you're pregnant. As fish get older and larger, they build up methyl mercury in their bodies. Light tuna comes from smaller, younger tuna, and white or albacore tuna comes from older, larger fish.

The FDA says that "high levels of mercury in the bloodstream of unborn babies and young children may harm the developing nervous system." It advises that women who might become pregnant and children can eat up to 12 ounces or two meals a week of canned tuna and that one of those may be white or albacore tuna. The FDA says that although some canned tuna may contain higher mercury levels, some are lower, and scientists took averages into account in the recommendations. "I haven't seen science that a single serving of a higher level would be of concern," says David Acheson, chief medical officer of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "Mercury is very much a chronic-exposure concern. You build up the levels in the blood, and that seems to be the problem." Men and those women not likely to get pregnant shouldn't forgo the cardiovascular protection that eating fish can provide, says Richard Forshee of the University of Maryland's Center for Food, Nutrition and Agriculture Policy.

Posted 6/5/2006 8:23 PM ET Updated 6/6/2006 5:49 PM ET Low Mercury and High Mercury Fishes - Consumer Reports Magazine Spanish mackerel (Gulf) Fresh tuna (except skipjack) Visit our mercury in seafood resources pag e for more information on making safer seafood choices. The page includes the Got Mercury? calculator, developed by the Turtle Island Restoration Network. Enter the types and amount of fish you plan to eat for the week, along with your body weight, and you'll see whether you'll be exceeding the safe dietary limit for mercury. How much is too much? Illustration: Javier Larrea When the FDA and EPA last issued recommendations about seafood, in 2004, they advised women of childbearing age to eat no more than 12 ounces of fish per week because of concerns about exposure to mercury. Though the agencies are still recommending that upper limit, they now are adding minimum weekly quotas, in part because recent research the FDA conducted indicated that one in five pregnant women had eaten no fish at all in the previous month and the majority of those who did had less than 4 ounces per week.

In announcing the updated advice, the FDA’s acting chief scientist, Stephen Ostroff, M.D., said, “The latest science strongly indicates that eating 8 to 12 ounces per week of a variety of fish lower in mercury during pregnancy benefits fetal growth and development.” The proposed guidelines will be discussed in upcoming public meetings. Other than the new advice on minimum weekly fish consumption, most of the other federal recommendations are essentially the same ones given in 2004. The agencies advise that young children and women of childbearing age avoid four fish with the highest mercury levels: swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico. They are also considering adding marlin and orange roughy to that list. Our safety experts agree that those women and children should avoid high-­mercury seafood. We also suggest that anyone who eats 24 ounces or more of fish per week should steer clear of high-mercury choices. The dietary safety limit for methylmercury (a form of mercury that builds up in fish and shellfish) set by the EPA is 0.1 microgram per kilogram of body weight per day.

Based on that, a blood level of 5.8 micrograms per liter of blood is what the agency considers a maximum acceptable level. But that guideline was set more than a decade ago. Some scientists and consumer safety advocates believe it should be changed because several studies published since then say adverse effects could occur at lower mercury blood levels. Deborah Rice, a former senior risk assessor for the EPA, thinks the limit should be lowered. Rice, who co-wrote the EPA document that established the current limit in 2001, says, “Based on newer studies showing harm from mercury at lower doses, there is no question that 5.8 micrograms is too high.” She suggests that the acceptable level should be lowered to 2 or 3 micrograms of mercury per liter of blood. But even using the EPA’s current levels, some of the agencies’ advice on fish consumption still causes concern. For instance, the new recommendations allow pregnant women to have up to 6 ounces of albacore (white) tuna weekly.

The average mercury levels in the FDA data we analyzed indicated that a 125-pound woman would exceed the EPA’s “safe” consumption limit for mercury by eating just 4 ounces of albacore tuna per week. A 48-pound child would exceed the limit eating any more than 1.5 ounces (about a third of a can). The agencies also include canned light tuna as a lower-mercury choice that consumers can eat to meet the minimum weekly fish quota. According to the National Fisheries Institute, light tuna accounts for about 70 percent of canned-tuna consumption in the U.S. Though canned light tuna on average has only a third of the mercury that albacore has, the FDA’s data show that 20 percent of the samples it tested since 2005 contained almost double the ­average level the agency lists for that type of tuna. And the highest level of mercury in its samples of canned light tuna exceeded the average mercury level for king mackerel. There’s no way for pregnant women to tell which cans have the higher spikes of mercury, which can potentially damage the brain of an infant in the womb at a critical stage of development.

“The brain undergoes a series of complex developmental stages that need to be completed in the right sequence and at the right time,” ­explains Philippe Grandjean, M.D., an ­adjunct professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and a leading researcher. A mother’s intake of methylmercury when she eats fish could reach the fetus within hours and may leave a permanent deficit at a critical time, he says. Consumer Reports has said for some time that canned light tuna is not a good low-­mercury choice and that pregnant women should not eat any tuna at all. Nothing in the new federal testing data or advice has given us cause to change that view, which also is shared by some scientists, such as Rice. In fact, our recent analysis of the FDA’s mercury testing data has prompted us to add a new piece of cautionary advice about another form of tuna. Certain types of tuna—such as yellowfin and big eye tuna, also known as “ahi”—used in sushi are especially high in mercury. FDA data show that many samples have levels comparable to shark and swordfish, which FDA advises pregnant women and other vulnerable groups to avoid entirely.

Our food-safety experts are recommending that young children, women of childbearing age, and anyone who eats a lot of fish— 24 ounces per week or more—should avoid eating sushi made with tuna and opt instead for sushi made with low-mercury fish. How you can take action The FDA and EPA are seeking feedback on their proposed guidelines on fish before they are made final. Make your voice heard by asking the agencies to improve their advice about tuna consumption and require that their cautionary advice be posted where fish is sold so that it’s easier to make the right choices to minimize mercury exposure. Submit comments on the Regulations.gov site. Consumer Reports believes the agencies should: Advise pregnant women to avoid eating any tuna, including canned light tuna. Stop recommending that women of childbearing age can safely eat up to 6 ounces of canned white (albacore) tuna per week. Include anyone who eats more than 24 ounces of fish per week among the vulnerable groups and develop advice for them to avoid overexposure to mercury.

Editor's Note: Mercury Levels in Fish: Fish to Avoid While Pregnant Share Shares 2K Despite the previous concern regarding mercury levels in fish, the FDA now recommends that women who are pregnant, breastfeeding , or plan on becoming pregnant consume more fish. Fish contain vital nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids , protein, vitamins, and minerals such as iron. These nutrients are essential, particularly for pregnant moms, as they foster healthy fetal, infant, and childhood development. How much fish should I eat? Many Americans do not eat adequate amounts of fish. However, the FDA recommends eating 8 to 12 ounces of fish low in mercury per week. That amounts to about 2 to 3 servings of fish per week, which can be eaten in place of other types of protein. Make sure to choose a variety of fish lower in mercury, such as salmon, tilapia, shrimp , tuna (canned light), cod, and catfish. Consumption of white (albacore) tuna should not exceed 6 ounces per week. What fish should I avoid? Mercury is an element that can collect in oceans, lakes, and streams.

In these bodies of water, mercury turns into methylmercury, a neurotoxin found in most fish in at least small amounts. In high quantities, methylmercury can be toxic to the nervous system. Due to their high mercury levels, there are four types of fish that should be avoided while pregnant or breastfeeding. These include tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico, swordfish, shark, and king mackerel. Also, if you eat fish from a local river, stream, or lake, make sure to first check the advisories for those bodies of water. You can find this information on your local fishing regulations website or through your local health department. If this information is not provided, consumption of such fish should be limited to 6 ounces per week. It is also recommend for pregnant and breastfeeding women to avoid eating raw fish as they are more susceptible to food-borne illnesses. Learn more about foods to avoid while pregnant . What if I ate one of the high-mercury fish? It is unlikely that one serving of such fish would pose a risk. However, it is best to avoid these while pregnant or breastfeeding. Is it okay to avoid all fish and just take omega-3 supplements?

While omega-3 supplements are beneficial, if you avoid all fish, you will be missing out on other essential nutrients. It is best to eat a variety of lower mercury fish. In addition, you can take an omega-3 supplement. The Association recommends the brand Nordic Naturals . Last updated: September 2, 2016 at 19:01 pm Compiled using information from the following sources: 1. Lewine, H. (2013, July 12). Fish oil: friend or foe? Consumer Reports: Pregnant Women Shouldn't Eat Tuna | Food Safety News By James Andrews | August 22, 2014 Can eating the wrong type of fish put you at higher risk for mercury exposure? That’s the question posed in the latest special food safety report published Wednesday from Consumer Reports, the publishing arm of the nonprofit Consumers Union. The noncontroversial answer is yes, certain fish contain higher levels of mercury than others — and different species of tuna can vary significantly in mercury levels. But Consumer Reports has taken the conversation a step further, concluding that pregnant women in particular should completely avoid tuna.

That advice directly contradicts that of the Food and Drug Administration, some nutritionists, and, of course, the seafood industry. In June, FDA released guidance recommending that women of childbearing age and young children eat fish as a good source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients. Tuna has long been a top recommendation due to its low price and convenience. Consumer Reports says that canned tuna, the most commonly consumed fish in the U.S., has levels of mercury too dangerous for pregnant women and their developing fetuses. Instead, they recommend 20 seafood alternatives with lower levels of mercury, including salmon and tilapia. For a comparison, a 4-ounce serving of salmon contains about 2 micrograms of mercury. The same amount of canned albacore tuna contains almost 60 micrograms. Swordfish? 150. What about chunk light tuna? While most cans of chunk light contain about one-third to half the amount mercury in albacore, about 20 percent of cans FDA tested contain just as much, said Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union.

The problem, Halloran told Food Safety News, is that there are no restrictions on what species of tuna may be put in a chunk light can, and so sometimes higher-mercury varieties are added in. As a result, she said, the maximum levels of mercury seen in both chunk light and albacore tuna are up in the range of fish on the FDA’s do-not-eat list. “If one of those high-mercury cans came at the wrong point in the fetal development, it’s a risk,” Halloran said. “Just like pregnant women are advised not to drink alcohol, during pregnancy it’s prudent to avoid tuna, especially when there are low-mercury seafood alternatives.” Halloran’s favorite alternatives are canned Alaskan salmon and canned sardines, which she jokingly called “highly underrated.” But others think the Consumer Reports message does more harm than good. “When I see reports like this, I just worry that people will be dissuaded from eating a really healthy food,” Colorado State University Nutrition Professor Dr. Mary Harris told Food Safety News. Harris said that scientific literature supports FDA’s recommendation for pregnant women to eat 8-12 ounces of fish per week, or 6 ounces of albacore tuna.

The health benefits of eating one to two meals of fish each week far outweigh the mercury risks, she said. “We should look at that 8-12 ounce recommendation as a target, not a limit,” she said. Harris added that she didn’t see salmon or sardines becoming widely adopted as a lower-mercury alternative to tuna because the affordability and ease of preparation with tuna just can’t be beat. In a statement released Wednesday, FDA criticized the report for overestimating the negative effects of mercury in fish and understating the health benefits of eating fish. The National Fisheries Institute, an industry association, responded similarly. “Consumer Reports is dangerously out of touch with science on this matter,” the association said in a statment. “This is not about Consumer Reports and ‘industry’ disagreeing. It is about Consumer Reports promoting its own reckless, hyperbolic, quasi-science and in the process damaging its own credibility.” Halloran at Consumers Union responded that the net-benefit argument made little sense when numerous low-mercury alternatives to tuna exist. “You can get all the same health benefits from lower-mercury fish without taking on the mercury risks with tuna,” she said.

“We all agree that women and children should eat low-mercury fish.” FDA includes a list of fish species with their average levels of mercury on its information page entitled, “Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know .” Both FDA and Consumer Reports agree that pregnant women and children should never eat the following four fish that contain the highest mercury levels: Swordfish

Question: Pregnant women should not eat canned tuna because of high levels of what toxin?
Answer: Mercury