Articles >> News >> Mercury Exposure Risks from Tuna

FDA Panel Urges US Government to Warn Pregnant Women, Young Children about Mercury Exposure Risks from Tuna

New tuna warnings good first step, but the government must do more to test fish and effectively warn the public about mercury risks from certain seafood, say advocates

Beltsville, MD--An independent food safety committee recommended that the US Food and Drug Administration warn pregnant women and children to limit consumption of canned tuna, one of the most consumed fish in America, due to mercury contamination. The Committee also advised FDA to test seafood and warn sensitive populations not to consume fish exceeding the FDA's action level of 1 part per million
methylmercury.

"The advisory committee says FDA can't leave consumers in the dark about mercury in their favorite fish, tuna," said Caroline Smith DeWaal of the Center for Science in the
Public Interest. "Pregnant women and children should limit canned tuna consumption and avoid fresh tuna steaks and sushi, especially if made from fish with higher mercury levels."

According to government agencies, if a pregnant woman frequently eats mercury containing fish, it can result in irreversible neurological problems, such as impaired
vision and memory, delayed walking and language, and even cerebral palsy. Infants and young children may also be more at risk from mercury exposure, say health agencies.

The advisory panel also recommended that FDA add other seafood to its so-called "do not consume" list for pregnant women and children if they are found to exceed FDA's
action level. Last year, the FDA advised pregnant women and those who could become
pregnant not to eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.

"For over five years, FDA has been asleep at the wheel when it comes to testing large predatory seafood for mercury," said Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project. "We strongly support the advisory committee's recommendation that FDA resume fish testing and add seafood known to have high levels -- like tuna, sea bass and marlin -- to the list that is off-limits for pregnant women and children."

Currently, ten states -- including Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Washington, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin -- have
posted advisories warning pregnant women and, in some cases, children to limit consumption of canned tuna. Six states also warn children to limit consumption of large tuna because of high mercury levels.

The Mercury Policy Project report, "The One That Got Away," first disclosed that FDA had discontinued its seafood monitoring program for methylmercury after 1997 and is available on the Project's website at www.mercurypolicy.org.

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