For many pregnant women, understanding what seafood is safe and healthy and what should be avoided because of mercury concerns comes with a lot of worrying. In part, that's because the federal government's advice on the matter, first issued in 2004, has long been criticized as vague. That guidance has included advice on how much seafood to eat, and which species pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid over concerns about mercury contamination. But critics say the government advisory has done more harm than good, scaring many pregnant and breastfeeding women away from eating seafood altogether.
The problem is real. According to a spokesman for the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA for short, the agency analyzed fish consumption data from more than 1,000 pregnant women in the US and found that 21 per cent of them ate no fish whatsoever in the previous month. And those who did eat fish consumed far less than recommended by the dietary guidelines. Some 50 per cent ate less than two ounces a week and 75 per cent ate less than four ounces.
This week the FDA issued an update to the advice, listing more than sixty species in a chart that ranks fish as A Best Choice, Good Choice and Choices to Avoid. The goal is to make it easier for mothers-to-be to feel confident about the type of seafood they include in their diets. The new advice recommends consumers choose a variety of fish to eat, and it comes with an easy-to-understand illustration of what an appropriate portion size should be—four ounces for an adult and two ounces for children aged four to seven.
And while expectant mothers have long been warned to stay away from shark and four other particular types of fish from the Gulf of Mexico, now there are three new species on the list of what to avoid. But not everyone is thrilled with the new advice. Critics say the new advice doesn't always agree with the agency's own scientific findings. While mercury is of great concern when people are talking about pregnant women and seafood, it's not the only factor contributing to anxiety.
The FDA maintains that its final consumption recommendations were based on thorough scientific analysis. Agency spokesman Cassell says the FDA believes their recommendations will increase confidence, not uncertainty. But critics disagree. They think the FDA's advice is not based on the evidence in its own detailed report, and so it confuses everyone.