Consumer Reports magazine urged pregnant women to avoid eating tuna and suggested consumers should consider 17 species of seafood that are low in mercury, which can have damage the brain and nervous system if over-consumed. It says the lowest levels of mercury are found in salmon, shrimp, sardines, tilapia, scallops, oysters and squid. Consumer Reports made its recommendations after analyzing FDA data on mercury in fish. The government recommends consumption of fish as a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients.
“We encourage pregnant women to avoid all tuna,” said Jane Halloran of Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports. New research suggests mercury can cause adverse effects at lower levels than previously thought, said Consumer Reports. The FDA and EPA recommend women who are pregnant, breast-feeding or trying to conceive should eat 8-12 ounces of fish per week to benefit fetal development. The FDA told the magazine that its standards will keep people safe. The FDA and EPA say most women and young children should stay away from swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish.