http://blogs.babiesonline.com/pregnancy/is-seafood-safe-during-pregnancy/ News & Information about parenting, pregnancy, and Babies Online's services Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:16:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 http://blogs.babiesonline.com/pregnancy/is-seafood-safe-during-pregnancy/#comment-481 Katie Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:20:53 +0000 http://blogs.babiesonline.com/2008/01/08/is-seafood-safe-during-pregnancy/#comment-481 Thank you for such an extensive and well researched post on mercury in seafood. It’s impossible to ignore the health benefits of fish. When consumed in moderation, they are a lean source of protein and full of heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. Not all species of fish are the same, however, and due to the continued presence of mercury in our environment, it is necessary to be wary of the kinds of fish we consume. This is especially true for children and women thinking of having kids, since they are much more vulnerable to methylmercury accumulation. According to the FDA and the EPA, women of childbearing age and children should avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish completely. These fish tend to have the highest levels of mercury. Unfortunately, most people don’t get the FDA advice where it’s most needed: in the grocery store. Oceana, an international marine conservation organization, has published the Green List, a tool consumers can use to go to grocery stores that post the advice. Grocers like Trader Joe’s, Safeway, and Whole Foods readily post the advice at seafood counters, earning them all a spot on the Green List. Meanwhile, others like Costco, Kroger and A&P do not, which lands them in the Red List. For more information, please visit <a href="http://oceana.org/greenlist" rel="nofollow">our mercury web page.</a> Thank you for such an extensive and well researched post on mercury in seafood. It’s impossible to ignore the health benefits of fish. When consumed in moderation, they are a lean source of protein and full of heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. Not all species of fish are the same, however, and due to the continued presence of mercury in our environment, it is necessary to be wary of the kinds of fish we consume. This is especially true for children and women thinking of having kids, since they are much more vulnerable to methylmercury accumulation. According to the FDA and the EPA, women of childbearing age and children should avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish completely. These fish tend to have the highest levels of mercury.
Unfortunately, most people don’t get the FDA advice where it’s most needed: in the grocery store. Oceana, an international marine conservation organization, has published the Green List, a tool consumers can use to go to grocery stores that post the advice. Grocers like Trader Joe’s, Safeway, and Whole Foods readily post the advice at seafood counters, earning them all a spot on the Green List. Meanwhile, others like Costco, Kroger and A&P do not, which lands them in the Red List. For more information, please visit our mercury web page.

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