The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
drafted a report for the White House
recommending a landmark revision to the
federal government���s seafood consumption
advisory. The current advisory states that
women of childbearing age, pregnant women,
nursing mothers, infants and children should avoid eating swordfish, king mackerel,
tilefish and shark and limit consumption of canned albacore tuna because of the presence
of methylmercury.
This new report suggests changing the advisory to encourage more seafood consumption
because science has found the health benefits of eating seafood outweigh the risks. The
report argues that nutrients in fish, such as omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and other
minerals, could help boost a child's IQ up to three points, with the greatest benefits
coming from eating more than 12 ounces of fish per week. Additionally, the report
recommends that most people should eat more fish, even if it contains mercury. The
USDA updates the food consumption advisories such as this one every five years, based
on the current science.
For more information on this issue, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute recently
released a new paper titled "
Seafood: Weighing the Benefits and Risks." Written by Dr.
Joyce Nettleton, the paper details why seafood is critical for the healthy development of
infants and children and essential for continued lifelong health. It provides an in-depth
explanation of methylmercury and contaminants, lists who may be at a higher risk, and
offers recommendations on how to choose fish wisely in order to gain the most benefit
from seafood nutrition.
To order "Seafood: Weighing the Benefits and Risks" by Dr. Joyce Nettleton, visit
www.alaskaseafood.org or call (800) 806-2497.
Source: SeafoodSource News, December 12, 2008
