So is fish safe to eat or not?

The federal government has been trying to persuade pregnant and breast-feeding women to limit their intake of fish because of mercury contamination. Now some federal scientists are arguing that these women should actually increase their fish consumption.


The current official advice from the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency is that pregnant and nursing women and young children can safely eat up to 12 ounces - roughly two servings - of most fish a week, but should limit their intake of albacore tuna to 6 ounces a week and avoid entirely four species of fish containing high levels of mercury. Now the two agencies are at loggerheads over the two-serving limit.


The FDA has circulated a draft report suggesting that the vast majority of fetuses and infants would actually benefit if their mothers ate more than two servings of fish a week because fish contain highly beneficial nutrients that aid in brain development. The FDA's scientists argue that those benefits outweigh any potential harm.


Those contentions are sharply disputed by specialists at the EPA who charged that the report had "serious scientific flaws." That is a strong indictment that must be answered before the public can place any confidence in the FDA's judgment.


Meanwhile, experts caution that consumers should choose from fish that are low in mercury, such as shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish. The report is still undergoing revision at the FDA, which pledges to publish it for comment before deciding how to proceed. Only then will a wide array of experts be able to tell if the final recommendations make sense or are dangerously flawed.


http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/19/opinion/edfish.php

It is well known that oily fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines, tuna etc. with high level of omega 3 fatty acids help prevent heart disease. It is also important for pregnant or lactating women to get more omega 3 fatty acids for the development of the babies’ nervous system. Oily fish is also a good source of vitamins A and D.


However, eating contaminated fish is the major source of human exposure to methymercury. The populations most sensitive to the compound are unborn babies, infants, and young children. Consequently, fish consumption by pregnant women, young children and women of childbearing age is a particular cause for concern because of the likelihood of mercury exposure. Methylmercury is higher in content in large predatory fish such as swordfish, shark, marlin and tuna. Ingesting high levels of mercury during pregnancy could affect a baby’s developing nervous system.



below are the suggested lower and upper limits for different population groups:


Women of reproductive age and girls -1 to 2 portions of oil fish per week


Pregnant and lactating women - 1 to 2 portions of oil fish per

week ( avoid marlin, swordfish, shark and tuna)


Women past reproductive age, boys and men - 1 portion of oily fish per week


*one serving is roughly 100g of fresh, frozen fish.


Dietician 2849 0721

Matilda International Hospital

Hong Kong

http://www.matilda.org

Is that correct - adult males only one portion of fish per week? I'm on 2-3x week and well over the 100g portion each time...

I think it depends the origin of the fish supply, i.e. thailand, new zealand and australia are good and safe place. I usually will ask the seller the origin before I buy anything from the market.