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Last Updated: Nov 12th, 2006 - 20:38:00 |
July 12 (foodconsumer.org) - A new analysis of light tuna suggests that the Joint Advisory on consumption of canned light tuna issued by the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency does not adequately address the potential risk of mercury in the imported light canned tuna.
The advisory of the FDA/EPA recommends eating up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury, - "five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish," and "another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week."
The recommendation is based on data indicating that canned light tuna generally contains a low level of mercury. But the new study found that although mercury in the US light tuna and light tuna imported from Asian countries was generally low, those imported from Latin American countries contained much higher levels of mercury.
The analysis commissioned by Defenders of Wildlife was conducted on nearly 200 cans of tuna imported from Ecuador, Mexico, Cost Roc, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as from the US. It found that light tuna imported from many Latin American countries such as Ecuador had significantly higher levels of mercury than the FDA estimated earlier. Some imported canned light tuna contained nearly ten times higher than the allowable dose of mercury for children.
According to the Defenders of Wildlife, the main findings resulting from the analysis include the following:
1) "The overall average of all 164 cans tested—albacore and light tuna combined—was 0.285 parts per million (ppm), more than twice the FDA's cutoff for "low-mercury" fish."
2) "Seventy percent of the cans tested contained enough mercury to put a 45-pound child over the EPA's safety standard if that child ate even a single can per week."
3) "Seven of the 144 cans of light tuna tested were at or above the FDA's action level of 1.0 ppm. The action level is the level of harmful contaminants, such as mercury, above which the agency can take legal action to remove products from store shelves to protect consumers. That means that roughly one in every 20 cans of tuna in our study was unfit for human consumption according to the FDA."
The finding is significant because in 2004, 51 percent of all canned light tuna on grocery stores came from foreign countries. Further, a large population of pregnant women and children who are more vulnerable to the toxicity of mercury eat light tuna regularly.
Critics have already complained that some US canned light tuna may contain dangerously higher mercury and suggested consumers use less than the amount recommended by the FDA, which suggests consumption of two servings of canned light tuna and other fish such as salmon and catfish a week. The federal agency recommends limiting consumption of white albacore tuna, which generally contains higher levels of mercury than the light tuna, is safe.
Defenders of Wildlife and its partners recommend that consumers apply the same standards to all canned light tuna that the FDA currently applies to albacore or white tuna: No more than one can (six ounces) per week for adults and one half can (three ounces) or less per week for children.
Furthermore, Defenders of Wildlife suggest consumers do the following to minimize their exposure to mercury in canned light tuna.
1) Watch the "Dolphin-safe" label: Tuna caught by chasing and netting dolphins are usually older, bigger and have higher levels of mercury in their body. According to US regulations, tuna caught this way are not eligible for the "Dolphin-safe label. Cans of light tuna without the dolphin-safe label are more likely to have a higher level of mercury.
2) Watch the country of origin: According to the new analysis, American and Asian light tuna contains relatively lower levels of mercury while cans of light tuna from Latin American countries contain higher concentrations of mercury.
3) Based on the new study, consumers should limit their intake of light canned tuna to no more than six ounces r one can of tuna per week. Children should be restricted from eating more than three ounces or one half can per week.
4) Being informed and erring on the side of caution is the best way to reduce risk.
Mercury in some canned light tuna may be risky
© 2004-2005 by foodconsumer.org unless otherwise specified
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