from Babycenter.com about TUNA

[Guest guest]

Thanks.. I knew it was something..

I guess I will just make a ton of chicken salad..

- Mommy to:

Noah - 10/14/02 - 31 weeker - 3lbs 11 oz

Jonah or Isabella - EDD 10/28/04

m/c 7/04

Open RNY 12/3/03 - 47 lbs gone and counting

[Guest guest]

You probably don't need to avoid tuna completely, but you're right to

be concerned. Most tuna contains methyl mercury, a metal believed to

be harmful in high doses to the growing brains of fetuses and young

children.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently reviewed the

data on tuna, and while they couldn't conclusively say that the

popular canned fish poses a threat to fetuses, they're concerned

enough to ask for more research into the effects of methyl mercury

levels on women and children. The results of that research, which

began in early 2003, will determine whether the FDA will revise its

guidelines.

In the meantime, the FDA recommends limiting your consumption of tuna

and other cooked fish to about 12 ounces a week (the equivalent of

about two servings). Though some states such as Vermont are setting

their own guidelines on tuna, suggesting that pregnant women eat no

more than 6 ounces a week. Click here to see whether your state is

taking action.

Canned tuna normally contains about .17 parts per million of mercury,

but that number can go as high as .75 parts per million depending on

where the fish came from and what they ate. Anything under 1 part per

million is considered safe by the FDA, which is why tuna is still on

their list of fish acceptable during pregnancy. But that doesn't mean

all fish are safe for pregnant women. According to guidelines issued

by the FDA in March of 2001, you should completely avoid shark,

swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish (also called golden or white

snapper). These fish contain more than 1 part per million of methyl

mercury, an amount the FDA considers unsafe. This level was

established to limit consumers' methylmercury exposure to levels ten

times lower than the lowest levels at which adverse effects were

found to occur in adults.

Fish absorb methylmercury from water as it passes over their gills

and as they feed on aquatic organisms. Larger predator fish are

exposed to higher levels of methylmercury from their prey.

Methylmercury binds tightly to the proteins in fish tissue, including

muscle, and cooking does not appreciably reduce the methylmercury

content of the fish.

While all this talk of mercury may give you the impression that

avoiding fish is the best way to protect your baby, remember that

fish is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty

acids — all of which are essential for your baby's development. There

are plenty of other tasty species — halibut, salmon, and scallops for

instance — that contain low levels of mercury, so consider enjoying

those once or twice a week.