Once, the American Academy of Pediatricians recommended that parents of children at higher risk of eczema and allergies held off feeding their babies certain foods until age 3. The thinking was that if parents avoided foods that cause a large percentage of all food allergies, like fish, until the child was older, then their immune system would be better able to cope with a possible allergic reaction.

In 2008 the AAP reversed their recommendation, saying there was no convincing evidence that eating fish early did increase the likelihood of allergies. And a study from Sweden now suggests that babies who start to eat fish between 6 and 9 months may actually have a lower risk of developing eczema.

The type of fish eaten didn’t seem to make any difference. Researchers had thought that the affect might have been due to omega-3 fatty acids found in certain fish, but now they believe that’s not the cause.

White fish is the least “fishy” tasting and can be pureed for younger babies, and of course fish sticks are always popular with older babies and toddlers.

Recent government studies have supported previous findings which advise pregnant women to limit their intake of fish in order to lower their risk of exposure to mercury and other toxic chemicals. Mercury can affect the brain development of a forming baby which is why it is of concern.

In 2004, the EPA and FDA issued an advisory and warned women who are pregnant, or may become pregnant to avoid certain types of fish. Swordfish, tile-fish, shark and king mackerel are large predator fish which were on the list of fish to avoid. Tuna was not on the advisory list, but certain types of tuna may be higher in mercury than other types. Canned tuna, according to the advisory is usually made from skipback tuna, and is lower in mercury levels.

Oceana, a marine conservation group, is calling on the FDA to issue warnings about certain types of fresh tuna. If you would like a list of fish to avoid and fish that is safe to eat during pregnancy, check out the Eco-Friendly Seafood website for more information.

The advice as to what we should be eating and what we shouldn?t be eating is getting increasingly complicated. One particular area of confusion is fish. Some fish is good for you, some fish is better for the environment, some fish has lots of mercury and some fish involves messing up the ecosystems. So where do we start?

The omega fatty acids found in the oily fish are especially good for you and may help many conditions including arthritic type conditions and neurological conditions such as dyslexia or autism. However, these can also be found in many other foods such as linseeds and sesame seeds.

Unfortunately the seas are becoming increasingly polluted with industrial pollution and other contaminants and these are absorbed into the fish. In addition many of the fish farming practices have negative environmental effects, such as killing of other sorts of fish, or smaller fish in the process.

Oceans Alive have put together their list of fish to be recommended, and fish to be avoided.

The ones that they most recommend are those that are both high in fatty acids and low in pollution, these are:

• Alaskan Sablefish
• Alaskan, Canned and Pink Salmon
• Anchovies
• Atlantic Herring
• Atlantic Mackerel
• Farmed Oysters
• Sardines
• Alaskan Halibut
• Bay Scallops
• Dungeness, Snow or Stone Crab
• Farmed Arctic Char
• Farmed Clams
• Farmed Mussels
• Farmed Striped Bass
• US Tilapia
• Spot Prams
• US Crawfish
• US Farmed Abalone
• US Farmed Catfish
• US Farmed Caviar
• US Farmed Sturgeon
• US Mahimahi
• North and US Farmed Shrimp

At the other end of the spectrum are those that are not recommended, the ones listed here are both high in mercury or PCBs and bad for the environment.

• Atlantic Farmed Salmon
• Bluefin Tuna
• Chilean Seabass/Toothfish
• Grouper
• Marlin
• Orange Roughey
• Rockfish/Rock Cod
• Shark
• Swordfish
• Tilefish
• Wild Sturgeon

On the not quite so bad list, but still to be avoided are:

• Atlantic Cod
• Atlantic Halibut
• Monkfish/Goosefish
• Prawns
• Shrimps
• Skate
• Snapper
• Wild Caviar

So keep eating the fish, if that is what you want, but just be careful which ones you eat.

Further Information

Coin Banks Recalled by TJ Promotions Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Fish Coin Banks

Units: About 1,300

Distributor: TJ Promotions, of South El Monte, Calif.

Hazard: Surface paint on the coin banks contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves coin banks made of plaster that are shaped as a fish. The coin banks are orange with white stripes.

Distribution: The coin banks were provided as a free gift to Coastal Federal Credit Union members in North Carolina from February 2006 through September 2007.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the recalled coin bank away from children immediately and return it to where it was received for a free replacement as soon as one is available.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact T J Promotions toll-free at (866) 742-2493 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm?s Web site at www.tjpromo.com