Consumer Reports: Tuna a No-No for Pregnant Women
There are lots of fish in the sea to pick from, but if you're a pregnant woman, tuna shouldn't be one of them, according to new findings announced by Consumer Reports.
Contradicting recent food safety guidelines released by the United States Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency -- which suggest mothers-to-be and women who are nursing can weekly eat between 8 and 12 ounces of low-mercury seafood such as light tuna -- the publication, which stakes its reputation on advocating for consumer rights, is warning pregnant women should stay away from tuna altogether.
"Consumer Reports disagrees with the recommendations from the FDA and EPA on how much tuna women and children may eat," the group said in one of its reports. "We don't think pregnant women should eat any."
Food policy initiatives director Jean Halloran said Consumer Reports is "particularly concerned about canned tuna, which is second only to shrimp as the most commonly eaten seafood in the U.S."
The FDA and EPA both said eating fish, including shellfish, provides a number of health benefits because it is packed with protein and nutrients, but low in saturated fat, .
"The nutritional value of fish is especially important during growth and development before birth, in early infancy for breastfed infants, and in childhood," the proposed guidelines read.
Consumer Reports reviewed the FDA material and picked out 20 fish that it stated "can be eaten several times per week, even by pregnant women and young children, without worrying about mercury exposure."
Despite the fact almost all seafood contains traces of mercury -- and too much can harm the brain and nervous systems -- the federal agencies assert fear of mercury poisoning should not be a reason to completely cut out fish.
"Avoiding fish during pregnancy in favor of omega-3 supplements means that you would be missing out on many other important nutrients contained in fish that are required for overall health," the guidelines read.
Both the government agencies and the magazine agree pregnant women should stick to salmon, shrimp and tilapia -- among the seafood with the lowest levels of mercury, along with pollock, catfish and flounder.
Expectant women are advised, without exception, to avoid eating any all raw fish, as well as swordfish, shark and king mackerel.
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