It seems that mercury contamination in fish It is a matter to which we must pay attention to consumers, especially parents of young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
The problem has reached such a magnitude that the European Commission is seriously considering regulating the information offered by the labeling to consumers, especially that referring to mercury content in fish, like tuna and swordfish.
The Mercury Zero Group, which works in relation to the European Enviroment Burea initiated a campaign that aims to reduce mercury emissions to the environment to zero and has requested that the labeling of food products bears a legend that states “Contains methylmercury. Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, women of childbearing age and children. ” In the absence of an ingredient list, the text would accompany the name of the food.
Today, the General Directorate of Health and Consumer Protection of the European Union recommends that women who are breastfeeding or who expect to become pregnant limit their consumption of fish such as swordfish, shark, grouper or tuna.
In Europe, the European Food Safety Authority noted that the risk threshold (1.6 nanograms / kg of body weight per week) and issued a special notice to mothers of nursing babies and young children.
Women who could become pregnant, women who are pregnant or women who are infants should not eat more than a small portion less than 100 grams a week of fish from predatory species although tuna is allowed two weekly portions.
Large predatory fish, such as swordfish, shark, and tuna, accumulate large levels of mercury that they ingest throughout their lives, but they are not the only ones and the European Union frequently reports the presence of mercury above of recommended levels in other species, including the following: pollock, mackerel, grouper, snapper, swordfish, redfish and different types of sharks.
The mercury contamination in the fish we consume It is because it is a metal that is not eliminated and that accumulates in the food chain, being more abundant in predatory fish that live longer.
