This is because mercury can harm the development of a foetus. The mercury concentration in tuna, while lower than that of shark, marlin or swordfish is higher than that in other fish like cod or salmon so the recommendation is that you eat no more than two 140g portions of fresh tuna, or four 140g portions of canned tuna, per week.įor women that are pregnant or planning to get pregnant within the next year the recommended maximum mercury consumption reduces to 1.6 µg/kg bw/week. Their recommendation is that people should eat at least two portions of fish a week, one of which one should be oily.īecause the mercury concentrations in larger fish are much higher it is recommended that adults should eat no more than one 140g portion of shark, marlin or swordfish a week to keep within the protective guideline of 3.3 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per week (µg/kg bw/week). The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fish a week, especially fish rich in omega-3s. In the UK, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition actually advises that most people do not eat enough fish, particularly oily fish, and should be encouraged to increase their weekly intake. Unfortunately, much of our worlds seafood supply is contaminated with high levels of toxic mercury. Fish is one of the best sources of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients including iron, potassium and B vitamins.

However, for most people, the benefits of eating fish outweigh the negatives provided that they make informed choices.įish are an important source of omega-3 fatty acids and other healthy proteins and fats. For species offered by Sitka Seafood Market, the health benefits far outweigh the risks of exposure to mercury or other harmful contaminants. Salmon is packed with anti-inflammatory omega-3s and, thankfully, is usually low in mercury. Can eating too much salmon lead to mercury toxicity Consuming too much salmon is unlikely to lead to mercury toxicity. Other fish, such as shark, swordfish, and king mackerel, have much higher levels of mercury and should be consumed in limited amounts.

It is unseen and has no smell, so you cannot tell how much methylmercury is contained in a fish just by looking at it. Salmon is a low-mercury fish and is considered safe to eat in moderate amounts. Mercury in fish accumulates in the meat of the fish and so it cannot be trimmed off or discarded with the skin or other waste parts. What are the personal considerations when deciding whether to eat fish?

Mercury poisoning from salmon