Food for thought
Safe Fish for Pregnancy…and Beyond
We read a lot about fish containing mercury and other toxins. But the omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients in fish are important during pregnancy for a baby’s brain development.
We can eat fish and avoid mercury, it’s just a matter of choosing safe fish.
Several environmental groups and Consumer Reports are keeping up with which fish to eat, and those to avoid.
We apply guidelines for pregnant (and breastfeeding) women to the whole family. Young children need the nutrients as well as protection from mercury and chemicals. And so do the rest of us.
Safe Fish Resources:
EWG’s Fish List
An easy to follow guide.
Consumer Reports
No canned tuna during pregnancy.
Vital Choice Wild Salmon
Dr. Mercola recommended and tested. A bit pricey, but delicious and we know we’re getting the real deal–safe fish.
Excellent websites and recommendations.
People should be aware of both the risks and benefits of seafood. The decision of what fish to eat can be a challenge and often contradictory. At the very least, people should know that FDA and EPA have issued advisories about mercury contamination in commonly-sold fish. The problem is, this information is hard to find and is not usually available where it is most necessary: your supermarket.
Oceana, a conservation group, is trying to get major grocery companies to post this government advice at their seafood counters. Thanks, in part to their work, Whole Foods, Safeway stores, and Wild Oats voluntarily agreed to post the FDA’s recommendations and they have had positive responses from customers and no loss in seafood sales. But other companies like Wal-Mart, Costco, and Giant have refused to do so. Oceana has a list of which companies care about their customers’ health enough to post this advice, as well as a list of companies that don’t. You can get the Green List and Red List at their website.