For the reason that authentic FDA consumption pointers have been developed in 2000, People have been involved about mercury in seafood. These early pointers have been issued out of warning when analysis wasn’t accessible. Nevertheless, research performed since then have proven fears of mercury toxicity from consuming seafood are largely unfounded.  These research spotlight the numerous advantages of consuming seafood and the potential dangers of not consuming sufficient. Regardless of this, many People are unaware of the present analysis and stay involved, particularly the teams that may profit probably the most from consuming seafood: pregnant and lactating moms, and kids.

Present Information About Mercury – Seafood is Secure!

• The FDA up to date its recommendation on seafood consumption in 2019 and 2021, specifying that fish are a part of a wholesome consuming sample and supply key vitamins throughout being pregnant, breastfeeding, and early childhood to assist growth.
• Based on the NFI Mercury Truth Sheet, there are not any confirmed instances of methylmercury toxicity within the U.S. from consumption of business seafood. Nevertheless, it’s estimated that low seafood consumption contributes to 84,000 preventable deaths yearly within the U.S.
• Seafood is wealthy in selenium, a required nutrient supporting mind operate whereas detoxifying mercury from all dietary sources. 

Among the many prime consumed seafood species within the U.S., a large (almost not possible) quantity would should be consumed in per week earlier than any mercury danger.

Why Is Consuming Extra Seafood Vital?

Fish is among the healthiest meals you possibly can eat. That’s as a result of it’s a fantastic supply of protein, micronutrients, and wholesome fat — all of which have quite a few advantages to your total well being. There are a whole lot of varieties of seafood you possibly can choose from which can be each scrumptious and very fit for human consumption. The danger of not consuming sufficient seafood far outweighs any potential concern over mercury publicity. Seafood is a superfood!

• Consuming seafood 2-3 instances per week reduces danger of loss of life of any health-related trigger by 17%. 
• Seafood is a nutrient-packed meals, wealthy in omega 3‘s that gives advantages to:
• Pregnant ladies want the vitamins in seafood for growth and present FDA dietary pointers advocate pregnant ladies eat no less than 2 servings of seafood per week

Sources:

1. Selenium, Mercury, and Well being Profit Values of Pelagic Ocean Fish of the Central North Pacific by Nicholas V. C. Ralston 1,*,J. John Kaneko 2 and Laura J. Raymond https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/4/158
2. Spiller P, van Wijngaarden E, Adams HR, Pressure JJ, McSorley EM, Mulhern MS, Conway MC, Yeates AJ, Carrington C, Bolger PM, Morgan KM, Taylor CM, Ralston NVC, Crawford MA, Hibbeln JR, Brenna JT, Myers GJ. Web results explains the advantages to youngsters from maternal fish consumption regardless of methylmercury in fish. Neurotoxicology. 2023 Dec;99:195-205. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.10.010. Epub 2023 Oct 20. PMID: 37866693. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31669935/
3. FDA (Up to date 2024). https://www.fda.gov/meals/customers/advice-about-eating-fish
4. NFI (2025). https://aboutseafood.com/useful resource/nfi-mercury-fact-sheet/
5. The Preventable Causes of Demise in america: Comparative Danger Evaluation of Dietary, Life-style, and Metabolic Danger Components Goodarz Danaei, Eric L. Ding, Dariush Mozaffarian, Ben Taylor, Jürgen Rehm, Christopher J. L. Murray, Majid Ezzati Analysis Article | printed 28 Apr 2009 PLOS Medication
6. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000058
7. FDA (2014). “A Quantitative Evaluation of the Web Results on Fetal Neurodevelopment From Consuming Industrial Fish.”
8. FAO/WHO (2011). Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Knowledgeable Session on the Dangers and Advantages of Fish Consumption. Rome, Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations; Geneva, World Well being Group, 50 pp.
9. S.E. Carlson, B.J. Gajewski, C.J. Valentine, S.A. Sands, A.R. Brown, E.H. Kerling, S.A. Crawford, C.S. Buhimschi, C.P. Weiner, M. Cackovic, E.A. DeFranco, D.P. Mudaranthakam, L.Ok. Rogers,