Canned light tuna is low in mercury and is considered one of the best choices for individuals that need to limit their exposure to mercury. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding can consume 2–3 servings of canned light tuna per week and children can consume 2 servings per week.
Canned white, or albacore (0.32 parts per million of mercury). Children under six can eat up to one 3-ounce portion a month; children from 6-12, two 4.5-ounce portions a month. Adults, including pregnant women, can safely eat this kind of tuna up to three times a month (women, 6-ounce portions; men, 8-ounce portions).
FRIDAY, Feb. 10, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Canned tuna is known to contain low levels of mercury, but a new Consumer Reports investigation has found spikes of the neurotoxin in some cans. The organization tested five popular tuna brands, CBS News reported.
It is safe for everyone (including pregnant women) to consume canned tuna as part of their fish intake. Canned tuna generally has lower levels of mercury than tuna fillets because smaller tuna species are used and the tuna are generally younger when caught.
Yes. Canned light tuna is in the “Best Choices” category and it is fine to eat 2 to 3 servings per week. We recommend that you eat a variety of fish.
Since tuna is relatively high in mercury, one can per day would bring you to the FDA suggested maximum amount of mercury. Having more than that on occasion may not be a problem, but you are at risk of getting low dose sustained mercury poisoning.
FSANZ has calculated that it is safe for all population groups to consume a snack can of tuna (95 grams) everyday, assuming no other fish is eaten. But remember, the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend that a variety of foods be consumed. 6. Does processing or cooking reduce the mercury content of fish?
If you're concerned about limiting the amount of mercury you consume, and if you've eaten no other fish during the week, Consumer Reports says up to 12 ounces a week of Bumble Bee Chunk Light, Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light, Safe Catch Wild Elite, and StarKist Chunk Light tunas are the safer choices among the products ...
You would have to eat around 25 tins (at 95g a tin) of it a week before you hit the maximum tolerable intake of mercury. For pregnant people (or people trying to get pregnant), the limit would be around 12 tins (at 95g a tin) a week.
Mercury accumulates in your bloodstream over time and slowly leaves the body through urine, feces, and breast milk. If you eat a lot of fish high in mercury, it may take up to a year for your mercury levels to drop after you stop eating the fish.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, salmon's average mercury concentration is 0.022 parts per million (ppm). Tuna has a higher average concentration of 0.144 ppm. Health experts recommend eating about 8 ounces of seafood per week. You could easily overdo it if your daily lunch is a good ol' can of tuna.
But scientists say more tests are needed to confirm that. Cooking does not remove mercury from fish because the metal is bound to the meat. For example, a piece of tuna will have the same amount of mercury whether it is eaten raw as sushi or cooked on the grill.
For tuna varieties, skipjack earns the Best Choice label from the FDA, while yellowfin and albacore receive the Good Choice label. The FDA suggests avoiding bigeye tuna, which has the highest levels of mercury. Before consuming canned tuna, it is best to consult with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
SAFCOL TUNA
The South Australian Fishermans Co-Operative Limited (S.A.F.C.O.L.)
Salmon is low in mercury.
Both wild and farmed Atlantic salmon have much lower mercury levels than most other fish species. Farmed salmon has on average, 0.05 micrograms of mercury per gram.
Health effects of mercury exposure
The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal. The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
Best in breed
Think twice about yellowfin, which is generally less sustainable than skipjack. If the tin doesn't list the type of tuna, don't buy it. Brands with decent credentials include Fish 4 Eva, John West, Safcol and Sirena. Aldi and Coles own-brand cans are OK, too, but check each for breed and catch method.
It's generally safe for all population groups, including pregnant women, to consume 2-3 serves of any type of tuna or salmon a week, canned or fresh. Canned tuna usually has lower mercury levels than other tuna because tuna used for canning are smaller species that are caught when less than 1 year old.
Once in the body mercury has a half-life of ~3 days in the blood stream and a 90 day half life in other tissues (e.g. brain, kidneys, etc).
That includes people of childbearing age and those who are pregnant. Fish Serving Size: An adult serving of fish is the amount that fits in the palm of your hand, or about 4 ounces. Therefore, the recommendation would make eating two to three 5-ounce cans of light tuna a week safe for adults.
Sardines are small and contain a lot of oil. They are also a low-mercury fish, so it's safe to eat them if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Takeaway. The FDA recommends eating 8 ounces of salmon per week. So you *can* eat it every day but in smaller servings. If you're pregnant, the FDA recommends eating 8 to 12 ounces of seafood per week from sources that have lower mercury levels — including salmon!