U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA-823-F-04-008
March 2004
Backgrounder for the
2004 FDA/EPA Consumer Advisory:
What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish
Today's Action:
• FDA and EPA are issuing a joint consumer advisory about mercury in fish and
shellfish. The advice is for: women who might become pregnant; women who
are pregnant; nursing mothers; and young children. This is significant
because it is the first time FDA and EPA have combined their advice into a
single uniform advisory. Previously FDA issued an advisory on consumption
of commercially caught fish, while EPA issued advice on recreationally caught
fish.
• FDA and EPA revised their existing advisories as a result of
recommendations FDA received from its Foods Advisory Committee (FAC) in
July 2002. At that meeting the FAC offered a number of recommendations
intended to improve the clarity and understandability of the then current FDA
advisory. One of the suggestions was that FDA and EPA combine their two
independent advisories.
• The criteria for the advisory was that it be based on sound science; is easy to
understand and apply; and protects the public health.
• The purpose of the advisory is to inform women who may become pregnant,
pregnant women, nursing mothers and the parents of young children on how
to get the positive health benefits from eating fish and shellfish, while
minimizing their mercury exposure.
Message to Consumers:
• Fish and shellfish are important parts of a healthy and balanced diet. They
are good sources of high quality protein and other nutrients. However,
depending on the amount and type of fish you consume it may be prudent to
modify your diet if you are: planning to become pregnant; pregnant; nursing;
or a young child. With a few simple adjustments, you can continue to enjoy
these foods in a manner that is healthy and beneficial and reduce your
unborn or young child's exposure to the harmful effects of mercury at the
same time.
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Key Parts of the Advisory:
• Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. Fish and shellfish
contain high quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated
fat and contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well balanced diet that includes a
variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children's
proper growth and development. Thus, women and young children in
particular should include fish or shellfish in their diets due to the many
nutritional benefits.
• By following these 3 recommendations for selecting and eating fish or
shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish
and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the
harmful effects of mercury.
1. Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they
contain high levels of mercury.
2. Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and
shellfish that are lower in mercury.
• Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are
shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
• Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more
mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of
fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of
albacore tuna per week.
3. Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and
friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is
available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you
catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that
week.
Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish and shellfish to your
young child, but serve smaller portions.
The Difference Between This Advisory and Previous Advisories:
1. The advisory emphasizes the positive benefits of eating fish.
2. The advisory provides examples of commonly eaten fish that are low in
mercury.
3. The advisory for the first time specifically addresses canned light tuna and
canned albacore ("white") tuna, as well as tuna steaks (in the questions
and answers section).
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4. The advisory recommends not to eat any other fish in the same week as
locally caught fish are consumed (the advice on the amount of locally
caught fish to eat is the same as in the 2001 EPA advisory).
5. The advisory contains a section that addresses frequently asked
questions about mercury in fish.
What the Risk is:
Research shows that most people's fish consumption does not cause a health
concern. However, high levels of mercury in the bloodstream of unborn babies
and young children may harm the developing nervous system. With this in mind,
FDA and EPA designed an advisory that if followed should keep an individual's
mercury consumption below levels that have been shown to cause harm. By
following the advisory parents can be confident of reducing their unborn or young
child's exposure to the harmful effects of mercury, while at the same time
maintaining a healthy diet that includes the nutritional benefits of fish and
shellfish.
General Methylmercury Information:
• The methylmercury described in the advisory is not the same type of mercury
found in some thermometers or in dental amalgam.
• Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the environment and is also
released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury that falls from the air
can accumulate in streams and oceans. Bacteria in the water cause chemical
changes that transform mercury into methylmercury. Fish absorb the
methylmercury as they feed in these waters. Methylmercury builds up more
in some fish than others depending on what they eat how long they live, and
how high up the food chain they are.
• Fish and shellfish are the main sources of mercury exposure to humans and
that mercury is in the form of methylmercury. Other forms of mercury, such
as that in dental amalgams are minor contributors to human mercury
exposure.
General Dietary Advice:
• FDA recommends that consumers eat a balanced diet, choosing a variety of
foods including fruits and vegetables, foods that are low in fransfat and
saturated fat, as well as foods rich in high fiber grains and nutrients. Fish and
shellfish can be an important part of this diet.
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What's Next:
• FDA and EPA want to ensure that women and young children continue to eat
fish and shellfish because of the nutritional benefits and encourage them to
follow the advisory so they can be confident in reducing their mercury
exposure as well.
• FDA and EPA are planning a comprehensive educational campaign to reach:
women who might become pregnant; pregnant women; nursing mothers; and
young children. The agencies will work with state, local and tribal health
departments to get information out into their communities. Physicians, other
health professionals, and health care associations will be sent information to
distribute through their offices. Extensive outreach through the media is also
planned. Radio and television stations, health editors at newspapers,
magazines, and other popular media will be contacted to encourage them to
carry the public service message. The methylmercury advisory will also be
an important part of a comprehensive food safety education program to be
used by educators of pregnant women. FDA plans to launch the
comprehensive education program later this year.
• EPA and FDA have begun discussions on how to coordinate other scientific
assessments involving fish.
Other:
• FDA and EPA tested different versions of the revised advisory in 16 focus
groups in 7 different locations throughout the United States. Based on
responses we received we modified the advisory so that it is more easily
understood.
o In December 2003, after 8 focus groups had been conducted, a
draft of the revised advisory was presented to the Foods Advisory
Committee. Based on their feedback we conducted 8 additional
focus groups and modified the advisory according to the feedback
we received. The result is the 2004 FDA/EPA Consumer Advisory:
"What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish".
• Since July 2002 FDA has tested over 3400 cans of tuna as well as 227 fish
samples, comprising 12 different species, for mercury. These results were
added to our previous sampling results.
• FDA continues to sample fish and shellfish, testing for mercury.
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For More Information:
For more information about the risks of mercury in fish and shellfish call the
FDA's Food Information Hotline toll-free at 1-888-SAFEFOOD or visit FDA's
Food Safety website at www.cfsan.fda.gov/seafood1.html. For more information
about the safety of locally caught fish and shellfish, visit the Environmental
Protection Agency's Fish Advisory website at www.epa.gov/ost/fish or contact
your state or local health department. Contact information for state and local
health departments is also found at this site.
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