Kinael
03-19-2004, 06:06 PM
Working at the library and saw this. Thought I should post it here in case anyone isn't aware:
Crawford [deputy commissioner of FDA] listed the three-part guidelines for women and children as:
_ Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
_ Eat up to 12 ounces — two average meals — per week of fish that are lower in mercury, such as shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish.
_ Check local advisories to determine the safety of fish caught by family and friends. If no such advice is available limit such fish to one six-ounce portion a week and don't consume any other fish that week.
Children should be served smaller portions than adults, the agencies said, but they did not offer any age-specific guidelines.
While the report praised the benefits of light tuna it said albacore tuna should be limited to one serving a week because these older fish can be higher in mercury than the young tuna that go into the light version.
FDA scientist Dr. David Acheson said the method of preparing food makes no difference in its mercury level. He also noted that processed fish such as fish sticks and fast-food fish sandwiches are usually made of pollock, which is low in mercury.
People not singled out in the guidelines, such as men, should include fish in their diets because of its health benefits including being a good source of protein and heart-beneficial omega-3 compounds, said Crawford. Fish has become increasingly popular in recent years because of these benefits.
The American Heart Association (news - web sites) recommends that people eat fish at least twice a week, even more often for those diagnosed with heart disease.
Full article: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=541&e=1&u=/ap/fish_mercury
The Ooficial FDA news release: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01038.html
Crawford [deputy commissioner of FDA] listed the three-part guidelines for women and children as:
_ Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
_ Eat up to 12 ounces — two average meals — per week of fish that are lower in mercury, such as shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish.
_ Check local advisories to determine the safety of fish caught by family and friends. If no such advice is available limit such fish to one six-ounce portion a week and don't consume any other fish that week.
Children should be served smaller portions than adults, the agencies said, but they did not offer any age-specific guidelines.
While the report praised the benefits of light tuna it said albacore tuna should be limited to one serving a week because these older fish can be higher in mercury than the young tuna that go into the light version.
FDA scientist Dr. David Acheson said the method of preparing food makes no difference in its mercury level. He also noted that processed fish such as fish sticks and fast-food fish sandwiches are usually made of pollock, which is low in mercury.
People not singled out in the guidelines, such as men, should include fish in their diets because of its health benefits including being a good source of protein and heart-beneficial omega-3 compounds, said Crawford. Fish has become increasingly popular in recent years because of these benefits.
The American Heart Association (news - web sites) recommends that people eat fish at least twice a week, even more often for those diagnosed with heart disease.
Full article: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=541&e=1&u=/ap/fish_mercury
The Ooficial FDA news release: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01038.html