FDA and EPA Issue Joint Advisory
About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish

Today, FDA and EPA issued a joint advisory on WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MERCURY IN FISH AND SHELLFISH--2004 EPA and FDA ADVICE FOR: WOMEN WHO MIGHT BECOME PREGNANT, WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT, NURSING MOTHERS, and YOUNG CHILDREN. The advisory states that fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. Fish and shellfish contain high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids. However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. By following the following three recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.

1. Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

2. Eat 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, light canned tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.

   • Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna, has more mercury than light canned 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.

3. Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.

Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish and shellfish to your young child, but serve smaller portions.

The complete advisory, a press release, and updated mercury data tables are on FDA's website at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01038.html.

FDA and EPA are planning a comprehensive educational campaign to reach women who might become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children. The agencies will work with state, local, and tribal health departments to get information out into their communities. Physicians, other health professionals, and health care associations will be sent information to distribute through their offices. Extensive outreach through the media is also planned. Radio and television stations, health editors at newspapers, magazines, and other popular media will be contacted to encourage them to carry the public service message. The methylmercury advisory will also be an important part of a comprehensive food safety education program to be used by educators of pregnant women. FDA plans to launch the comprehensive education program later this year.

Food Safety and Security Staff E-mail:

Office Number: (301) 436-2277· FAX (301) 436-2605 CFSAN Web site: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/