Tuna Fish Warning: Consumer Reports Magazine, June 2001

[Guest guest]

Ok here we go again discussing tunafish! My latest issue of Consumer

Reports Magazine (June 2001) has a big article about tuna fish on page 16.

They are seriously concerned about the level of mercury in tuna fish. I'll

quote their recommendations from page 17:

" Consumers Union believes vulnerable individuals should limit their intake

of tuna based on the EPA guidelines. Here's what that means:

A 132-pound woman could consume up to 9 ounces of light tuna or 5 ounces of

white tuna a week (assuming no other mercury-bearing fish is eaten). That's

about two cans of light tuna or one can of white tuna a week, given that a

6-ounce can usually has about 4 1/2 to 5 ounces of tuna meat after the

liquid is drained.

A 44-pound child could eat onlhy 3 ounces of light tuna or 1/12 ounces of

white a week; inother words, one tuna sandwich weekly.

Another option is to avoid fish with higher mercury levels during these

times of your life. Good choices with little methylmercury include

butterfish, flounder, haddock, herring, king crab, mullet, sardines,

scallops, shrimp, and tilapia. "

Before this they said " Scientists arent' prepared to specify the precise age

at which children are less vulnerable, since the brain and nervous system

develop into the teen years. We think it's prudent to limit children's

mercury exposure until age 5 and possibley for a few years longer, bearing

in mind that as they grow they can safely eat more fish. "

I personally love tuna fish but now will no longer eat or serve it until the

girls are quite a bit older. Of course, I'm racking my brain trying to

remember how much I ate while pregnant and how much I served to after

her 1st birthday. If you want more info, email addy is

www.ConsumerReports.org .

H, mommy to 3.5 yrs, PDD; and 2 yrs, NT.