Fish that pregnant women and young children should not eat

Pregnant, lactating or planning pregnant women as well as young children should increase the amount of fish with low levels of mercury in their diets to improve their health and provide adequate nutrition for the development. development of children.

This is the advice given by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 10 in an updated draft regarding mercury content in seafood.

According to the FDA's draft, these subjects should consume a minimum fish meal of 227 grams and a maximum of 340 grams, equivalent to two to three meals a week, four times the current consumption. .

Salmon are among the seafood with low mercury content recommended.(Photo: mccormick)

Recommended low mercury seafood types include salmon, shrimp, North Atlantic cod, canned light tuna, tilapia and mackerel.

Meanwhile, swordfish, sharks, emperor mackerel and tilefish caught from the Gulf of Mexico topped the list of high mercury content, recommended not to be used.

FDA also said that the maximum amount of white tuna consumed per week should be only 170 grams. In addition, raw fish should be avoided for pregnant women and young children due to a weak immune system.

For rivers, streams and lakes, the FDA offers a consumption of 170 grams a week for adults and 28-85 grams for young children.

FDA's top scientist Stephen Ostroff said that most women who limit or stop eating fish during pregnancy and don't feed their babies in the early stages may cause a lack of nutrients. Important substances for body growth and health.

The FDA said it will study public feedback on the draft, consulted with the FDA's Information Risk Advisory Committee, before announcing the final recommendation.