April 2, 2007 – Health Canada issued standards for mercury in certain predatory fish species that were previously exempt. The federal agency has therefore released new recommendations for Canadian consumers. This decision was made following a review of scientific data.
These standards target fish that appear to contain higher levels of mercury due to their size, lifespan and diet. They will now be subject to a standard of one part mercury per million.
Here are the fish covered by these standards: tuna, shark, swordfish, escolar (escolar), sailboat and orange roughy (roughy orange). Note here that it is fresh or frozen tuna. Canned tuna is not on this list. It remains at 0.5 parts per million of mercury.
Health Canada therefore recommends that Canadians limit the consumption of these species to 150 g of fresh or frozen meat per week. This amount is the equivalent of two usual servings of fish (about 75 g or half a cup each). Pregnant women and children should consume these fish in even more moderation.
Recommendations for predatory fish Average consumer: 150 g per week |
Nutritionist Hélène Baribeau wants consumers to take the time to put these data into perspective. “Health Canada must produce these scientific opinions, but it would be a shame if the recommendations hamper the pleasure of consuming fish and the possibility of deriving all the health benefits from it”.
Health Canada also suggests striking a balance between their recommendations and the advice of the Canada’s Food Guide so as not to deprive yourself of the nutritional benefits of fish. The food guide recommends eating at least two servings of fish per week. It encourages the consumption of fish rich in omega-3s such as salmon, sardines, herring and rainbow trout, which are species containing rather low concentrations of mercury.
This update follows the publication, last February, of a Health Canada advisory on canned albacore tuna². The recommendations were aimed at pregnant women, those planning to become pregnant, those who are breastfeeding, as well as young children. There were no restrictions on the general population³.
Marie france Coutu – PasseportSanté.net
1. To access Health Canada’s revised standards for mercury in fish, March 28, 2007: www.hc-sc.gc.ca.
2. To access Health Canada’s advice on canned albacore tuna, February 19, 2007: www.hc-sc.gc.ca.
3. More mercury in albacore tuna: www.passeportsante.net.