Women Advised To Avoid Some Fish - Brief Article

Better Nutrition, April, 2001

In a recent FDA advisory from its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), pregnant women and women of childbearing age should avoid certain types of fish which are high in methyl mercury: shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. These long-lived, large fish accumulate the highest levels of methyl mercury, which poses serious risks to unborn babies, nursing mothers and small children.

What about other fish? Twelve ounces of cooked fish (other than the above examples) a week is okay for most people. For those who want the good fats from fish, without these risks, there are purified omega-3 supplements on the market. For more information about mercury in seafood, call the FDA's Food Information Line at: 1-888-SAFEFOOD.