Mercury Concerns
Questions & Answers from the FDA/EPA Advice on What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know about Eating Fish, FDA
Fish are a high-quality protein source, and lower mercury fish are a good choice for everyone. This advice is specifically for women who are pregnant, might become pregnant or are breastfeeding, and for young children, but everyone can follow this advice.
Albacore has more omega-3 fat per ounce but since it comes from a larger species of tuna, it also has more mercury. Chunk light, on the other hand, comes from a smaller species of fish and has less mercury and omega-3 fat.
The Food and Drug Administration and EPA recommend that women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing moms and young children eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) of lower-mercury fish and shellfish each week. Since albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than light tuna, when choosing your 2 fish, you can safely eat up to 6 ounces of albacore tuna each week (which is a healthy serving of tuna for one average meal).
Use the chart to help you choose which fish to eat each week. Eating a variety of fish is better for you and your child than eating the same type every time.
Canned Tuna
Tuna is one of the easiest protein sources to keep on stock for a quick meal.
Choosing the Right Can
Water and Oil-packed tuna can be used create a healthy recipe. In the market, the most common water-packed varieties are albacore and chunk light. Albacore has a milder flavor, while chunk light tends to have a stronger flavor. Three ounces of tuna canned in water has the following nutrition information:
Choosing the Right Can
Water and Oil-packed tuna can be used create a healthy recipe. In the market, the most common water-packed varieties are albacore and chunk light. Albacore has a milder flavor, while chunk light tends to have a stronger flavor. Three ounces of tuna canned in water has the following nutrition information:
