News Coverage
Tuna Danger
Published March 1, 2004
Tuna sandwiches and casseroles are almost as American as apple pie, but there's something the government isn't telling you about canned tuna fish. It may make you think twice before you serve tuna to your family.
Tuna's often on the menu at the Johnson home, but there's more than fish in the cans. There's mercury, a type more dangerous than what's found in some vaccines.New data shows higher levels of the toxin than previously thought.
The FDA's own analysis found albacore tuna had on average three times the amount of mercury than the chunk light variety.
They are poison levels many believe could put young kids and unborn children at risk.
Until she became pregnant, Sheryl Stahl in Commerce Twp. ate tons of albacore tuna, the white kind that's more expensive.
"I'm going to be a very paranoid mommy, so I had to give it up," she says.
Sheryl has reason to be worried.
New numbers from the government show about 4 million babies born each year, that's 15 percent, may be exposed to dangerous levels of mercury in the womb. That can lead to learning disabilities and memory problems.
Jerry Keeler is a mercury expert at U of M's School of Public Health.
"Women who eat lots of fish high in mercury when they're pregnant pass along the mercury to the fetus, then the fetus basically has developmental problems," Keeler explains.
But tuna isn't on the FDA's do not eat list.
If you're looking for the state to guidance, you won't find it. The only word of warning we found was in a Michigan guide from back in the late 90s.
The guide said women should not eat more than seven ounces of tuna a week. Now it's gone.
Michigan Dept. of Community Health spokesman T.J. Bucholz says the warning was taken out during the Engler administration.
"We think maybe there would be some benefit in having some guidance about tuna in the guide and we're looking into it right now," Bucholz adds.
The FDA is going to make some changes next month. A draft reveals it'll say albacore has higher levels, but not how much higher. They're not singling out limits for albacore tuna, kust advising you to "mix up" your fish.
Critics say that's not enough.
"If the government tells them that 12 ounces of fish a week is safe they are going to think it's fine, but the reality is 12 ounces of certain types of fish, including canned tuna, really does exceed what's considered the safe dose," Mary Beth Doyle of the Environmental Health Project told Action News.
So how much tuna is safe? According to the Environmental Working Group, a 135-pound woman can safely eat about half a can of albacore tuna a week. If she switches to chunk light, she can eat more than one can. A 50-pound child can only safely eat about 1/6th of a can, if it's albacore. If it's chunk light, about half a can will stay within safe limits.
As an alternative to tuna, you can try feeding your family fish lower in mercury such as crab, catfish, flounder, salmon and shrimp.
This tuna calculator (http://www.ewg.org/tunacalculator) can help you learn how much is safe to eat for your weight.