FSA issues shark, tuna warning
The Food Safety Authority has issued a warning against the consumption of predatory fish species following studies that found potentially dangerous levels of mercury in such species.
The authority said pregnant women, breast-feeding women, women of child-bearing age and young children should stop eating species like shark, swordfish and marlin in light of the studies.
It also said these groups should limit their intake of tuna to one fresh steak or two 8oz cans per week.
The FSA said the advice does not affect other fish species and people should continue to eat such fish as part of a balanced diet.
Mercury is a metal which is found both naturally in the environment and also as a result of disposal of waste or releases from industrial activities. It is a contaminant and can build up in the food chain.
A recent European Food Safety Authority study undertaken by its Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain has shown that its chemical form, methylmercury, is prevalent in all fish and can build up to significant levels in large predatory fish as these fish consume smaller species that have taken up mercury in the environment.
These predatory fish thus have a larger store of mercury, which is found to affect the human nervous system and the developing brain. It is on this basis the FSAI is making this recommendation to pregnant, breastfeeding and women of child bearing age so as to protect unborn, newborn and young children against the negative effects of the build up of methylmercury.
