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FDA drops tuna from list of high-mercury foods, causing outcry
There is bound to be a lot of panic among pregnant women over the national story going out about unsafe levels of mercury in tuna. The FDA first limited tuna, then dropped tuna from the list of high mercury foods. Watchdog groups are claiming that leaving tuna off the list puts babies at risk.
First, let me point out immediately that no matter how much tuna you eat, this is NOT a MISCARRIAGE risk.
There is a tenuous link between moderate levels of mercury during pregnancy and mild learning disabilities in children. Don't think eating tuna caused a miscarriage. I personally ate a CAN of tuna EVERY DAY during my first trimester, because it was the only thing other than cereal that I could keep down. I am not panicking, am 30 weeks pregnant now, and I hope I will be a model for those who may have been eating large amounts of tuna as well. We can't change what we've done, but I, and I expect all of you, will now limit tuna intake to two cans a week or less, as was previously recommended by the Food and Drug Administration here in the US. That should be easy enough to do.
If some of you want to cut tuna out entirely, then by all means do so. I will not, because I love tuna and it contains very important nutrients for a growing baby. I will simply use common sense and moderation.
I am, however, going to avoid the other larger oceanic fish, such as shark, swordfish, mackerel, and tilefish (I know we ALL have a freezer full of these!) I don't see any hardship in doing so, and I'll save my mercury consumption for my tuna!
I hope this alleviates some fears. Lots of women, very healthy women, eat a can of tuna very day, and have perfectly normal babies and children. Remember that this warning originated with people who have interests in environmental protection (which is very often at odds with the fishing industry), and the people playing it down have interests in selling tuna.
Only WE have the interest in healthy babies, and I think the limitations I have put forth here are all we need to do to achieve that.
In summary:
 | Eat two regular-sized cans of tuna or less per week (12 ounces) |
| Even if you do not eat tuna, limit yourself to 12 ounces per week of all oceanic fish, such as shark, swordfish, mackerel, or tilefish. If you are eating tuna, make sure consumption of all oceanic fish does not exceed 12 ounces per week. |
| Don't worry about levels you have already eaten. The link to learning disabilities is actually very weak to begin with. |