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FDA, EPA update fish consumption guidelines for pregnant women, children
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The FDA and EPA announced draft revisions to guidelines regarding the consumption of fish by pregnant women and children.
The agencies said in a press release that pregnant women and children should increase their intake of low mercury fish to 8 to 12 ounces, or two to three servings, per week. Prior guidelines provided maximum weekly consumption amounts but did not recommend a minimum.
“For years many women have limited or avoided eating fish during pregnancy or feeding fish to their young children, but emerging science now tells us that limiting or avoiding fish during pregnancy and early childhood can mean missing out on important nutrients that can have a positive impact on growth and development, as well as on general health,” Stephen Ostroff, MD, the FDA’s acting chief scientist, said in the release.
Fish containing the lowest levels of mercury were said to include catfish, cod, pollock, salmon, shrimp, tilapia and canned light tuna. Fish to be avoided, according to the agencies, are king mackerel, tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico, shark and swordfish. Consumption of white or albacore tuna is recommended to be limited to no more than 6 ounces per week.
“Eating fish with lower levels of mercury provides numerous health and dietary benefits,” Nancy Stoner, the EPA’s acting assistant administrator for the Office of Water, said in the release. “This updated advice will help pregnant women and mothers make informed decisions about the right amount and right kinds of fish to eat during important times in their lives and their children’s lives.”
The changes follow a study of over 1,000 pregnant women conducted by the FDA. In the study, researchers discovered that 21% of the women reported no consumption of fish in the previous month. Fifty percent ate fewer than 2 ounces per week, and 75% ate less than 4 ounces per week.
A public comment period begins on June 11 and will continue until 30 days after the transcript of the final advisory board meeting on the subject is issued.