Updated COT Statement on a Survey of Mercury in Fish and Shellfish

The British Government Paper:

Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. Food Standards Agency, Great Britain (The United Kingdom or the U.K. or England) 2002. http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/cotstatementmercuryfish.PDF#page=1

The Purpose of this British Government Paper:
The British government studied mercury levels in fish and shellfish – and the impact of this mercury exposure on British consumers.

Some Background, Methods, Results, Caveats, and Other Select Points:

• This is not a peer-reviewed, scientific paper.
• This British government paper was first publicly distributed in 2002.
• These British government scientists find their National Diet and Nutritional Survey methylmercury blood levels are reassuring with respect to the average and high-level of British consumers eating fish. The British adults surveyed had blood methylmercury levels indicating that almost all of the British people had low methylmercury dietary intakes.
• These British government scientists note that eating one weekly 140 g portion of either shark, swordfish, or marlin (all three are predator fish close to the top of the ocean food chain) would result in a high dietary methylmercury exposure. These scientists believe that such methylmercury intake could be harmful to the unborn children of women who are pregnant or become pregnant within a year. This level of methylmercury intake is not expected to cause bad effect(s) in other adults.
• These British government scientists recommend further research to develop:
  1. New methylmercury testing procedures to directly measure methylmercury;
  2. New and different types of studies to help identify people at greater risk for methylmercury’s bad effects; plus
  3. New research integrating the risks with nutritional benefits of eating fish.

A Bottom Line:
British government scientists believe that eating two 140g portions of fresh tuna - or four 140g portions of canned tuna - each week before or during pregnancy is not be expected to cause any bad effect(s) on the unborn child.

These British government scientists also note that the methylmercury content of fresh tuna is lower than that of shark, swordfish, or marlin - but higher than that of other commonly eaten fish in Britain.

Find This British Government Paper for Your Review:
Updated COT Statement on a Survey of Mercury in Fish and Shellfish. Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. Food Standards Agency, U.K. http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/cotstatementmercuryfish.PDF#page=1