Apart from the fact that fish is rich in protein and low in saturated fat, it is also a good source of omega-3, a fatty acid which is known to reduce the risk of abnormal heartbeats that can cause sudden death. The same fatty acid also helps to decrease triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, and…
Something fishy: FDA’s final advice on when to eat which fish
The Food and Drug Administration issued its “final advice” on fish and shellfish this week, warning against eating some species and encouraging Americans to eat three servings a week of others.
The federal agency gave particular attention to pregnant and breastfeeding women, and in less than 24 hours the Center for Science in the Public…
Consumer Group Helps Calculate Safest Seafood
Concerned that the government’s advice regarding seafood consumption is too simplistic, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released its own consumer guide on the subject. “The developing brain during pregnancy and in childhood is remarkably damaged by mercury and also repaired or ‘boosted’ by omega-3 fatty acids,” said EWG Senior Analyst Sonya Lunder. “Another key…
Consumer Reports: Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat Tuna
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…
Groups Say Latest Seafood Guidance May Not Protect Consumers
Consumer advocates are concerned that the recently updated federal guidance encouraging pregnant women, nursing mothers and children to consume two to three servings of fish and shellfish a week oversimplifies its species recommendations. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Mercury Policy Project (MPP), along with mercury researcher Philippe Grandjean, think that the Food…
Agencies Update Seafood Guidance for Pregnant Women
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have issued draft updated advice on fish consumption that is consistent with recommendations in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It recommends that pregnant and breastfeeding women, those who might become pregnant, and young children eat at least eight ounces and up to…
FDA to Update Mercury in Seafood Guidance for Pregnant Women
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responding to a lawsuit concerning the levels of mercury in seafood by updating its guidance for pregnant women and young children. “It’s an advisory, not an effort to mandate labeling,” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg told the Associated Press last week. In July 2011, the Center for Science in…
Consumer Advocates Sue FDA to Require Better Information About Seafood Mercury Levels
The latest lawsuit brought against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concerns the levels of mercury in the seafood we eat. The Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Mercury Policy Project petitioned FDA in July 2011 to require signs in supermarkets and labels on packaged seafood that give consumers information on the…
Texas Issues Fish Consumption Warning for Neches River Basin
Texans have received a warning from the state department of health about six species of fish caught in portions of the Neches River Basin due to fish testing for heightened levels of mercury and dioxins. The area of concern is a portion of the Neches River Basin that includes Sam Rayburn Reservoir and B.A. Steinhagen…
Mercury Reaches Unsafe Levels in Gulf Fish from Texas Coast
Fish caught off the coast of the Lone Star State contain unsafe mercury levels, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) warned Tuesday. In the first consumption advisory issued by Texas since last September, when it warned the public not to eat Blue marlin caught in state coastal waters, the TDSHS said women…
Report Says Tuna Could Be Dangerous for School Kids
Tuna-loving school kids are at risk for mercury poisoning, according to a new report sponsored by several public health, consumer and environmental groups. “Most children are already consuming only modest amounts of tuna and are not at significant risk,” said Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project (MPP). “So the focus really needs to…