http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13154017/
"WASHINGTON - Pregnant women should not eat canned tuna because it may contain harmful levels of mercury, Consumer Reports magazine says, a more cautious approach than recommended by the U.S. government."
"Government tests found instances when canned light tuna had as much of the potentially harmful heavy metal as white tuna, also known as albacore, the magazine’s newest issue said."
"Since March 2004, the FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency have recommended that women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, nursing or feeding a young child should eat no more than 6 ounces of albacore tuna a week.
But the government says it is safe to eat up to 12 ounces — the amount of fish in two meals — per week of fish and shellfish low in mercury, such as shrimp, salmon, light tuna, catfish and pollock."
If I was pregnant, I think I would try to refrain from tuna altogether. I mean, why risk it? Most people can live for 9 months without eating tuna fish. Tuna obviously has mercury in it, though there are constant disputes about the amounts and what amount is dangerous.
Would you prefer to eat tuna and have an unhealthy baby, or abstain from tuna for 9 months and not have the risk of having a baby hurt by mercury poisoning? To me the answer seems obvious: don't eat tuna while pregnant. Just like you shouldn't drink or smoke while pregnant.
These days it seems like everything either causes cancer or some other disease or ailment. I think the best idea is to eat foods that are the closest to their original form. Examples:
-Potatoes, rather than french fries, chips, etc
-Fresh fruit and vegetables, rather than cooked, frozen, or canned ones
-Meat from an actual piece of chicken or something, rather than processed lunchmeat full of nitrates
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Your suggestions really pertain to all people, not just pregnant women. Any pregnant woman should discuss her nutrition needs with her obstetrician. There are many factors to be considered, not just government guidelines.
I know they pertain to all people, but they are more important for pregnant people since they're trying to raise a healthy baby.
We've known for years that tuna can be dangerous. And just like I wouldn't smoke when pregnant, I wouldn't eat tuna either. If it's just my life I'm putting in jeopardy then I'll take a lot more risks--but when your pregnant it's the baby's life that's at stake as well.
~CallieV
The FDA reported that 30-50% of women do NOT know about the risks of mercury in seafood. Canned tuna mercury levels do vary widely so women should be especially careful when intending to become pregnant, when pregnant, or when nursing.
As another person noted, it's a problem for us all. Mercury is a toxin and the less you have in your body, the better. You don't have to give up fish, just give up high-mercury fish like tuna and swordfish. If you want to learn about safter seafood, then please visit http://GotMercury.Org for more information.
Pregant women should just aviod anything that lives in the water during preganacy. Normal fish have been known to eat bullets and everything else that falls into the water. The water, at least inland has supposaliy been getting cleaner since we started cleaning up the pollution.ie less waste in the water and merecuy dissappearing from the shelves and I think the bullets don't have mercaury in them anymore(not sure). But the water everywhere is just dirty and polluted. We don't have lake fires anymore but that was not so long ago. If nulear waste has a half life of 1 million yrs you can imagine that regular watse ins't much better. Reducing the trash from packaging and having garbage services that recycle for you have helped. But I don't know if I would go and eat any fish anytime soon...Or maybe you should before you can't eat it at all because its too piosonus. Eighter way, you decide.