Charlotte Observer, Suzanne Havala Hobbs
Published April 20, 2004
If it isn't PCBs, it's mercury.
The federal government has issued new guidelines concerning mercury contamination in fish.
But while the guidance is a step in the right direction, it falls short.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency issued the joint advisory in March after months of negotiation. The final wording aims to steer consumers away from dangerous intakes of high-mercury fish without scaring them off fish altogether.
The canned-tuna industry is pleased with the results. Consumer advocates aren't.
The advisory labels albacore tuna as being moderately high in mercury and suggests a consumption limit of 6 ounces per week. However, one nationally known mercury expert and member of the advisory panel resigned in protest when the advisory was released.
"We wanted albacore tuna on the list of fish not to eat," Vas Aposhian, a University of Arizona professor, told the Washington Post. "We knew that wouldn't happen because of pressure from the industry, but we certainly didn't think there should be a recommendation to eat 6 ounces of albacore."
An EPA analysis found that in 1999-2000, 15 percent of newborns may have been exposed to unsafe levels of mercury before birth. Neurological effects can include learning disabilities and lower IQ.
Tuna is the greatest source of mercury in the American diet. The fish are contaminated by pollution.
The new FDA/EPA guidelines mark the first time tuna has been flagged for restriction. The recommendations:
• Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish.
• Eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week of a variety of other fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury: shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock (in most fish sticks) and catfish. Eat no more than one meal per week (6 ounces) of albacore ("white") tuna, because it is higher in mercury than canned light tuna.
• Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught in your area. If you can't get the information, eat no more than 6 ounces per week.
A Q&A section of the joint FDA/EPA advisory clarifies that tuna steaks should be treated the same as albacore tuna and limited to the same amount. However, no mention is made of grouper or orange roughy, which contain even more mercury. A chart showing mercury levels is available at
www.cfsan.fda.gov.
In addition to permitting exposure to levels of mercury much higher than limits set by EPA, critics also say the guidelines give no specific advice on portion sizes for young children. They say that consumers should be given a longer list of low- and very-low mercury fish as well.
The Environmental Working Group includes such a list on its Web site,
www.ewg.org.
So what should fish eaters eat?
Start with the EWG's list of low- and very-low mercury fish. From there, knock farmed salmon off the list due to PCB concerns.
And be aware that environmental contaminants are a growing problem in our foods.
