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Harvard Study Refutes Mercury 'Survey'
Fish Consumption Declining Among Women Due to Mercury Warnings
"As a practicing pediatrician, I encourage my mothers to follow the FDA guidelines of eating 12 ounces of cooked fish a week because I know how important the Omega 3's are to their health and the health of their babies," stated Dr. Lillian Beard, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and spokesperson for the US Tuna Foundation.
This study refutes a survey by the advocacy groups -- New England Zero Mercury Campaign and the Mercury Policy Project that states that 36% of those surveyed were unaware that the government advises people to limit eating certain fish. The survey, which was not published in a peer-reviewed journal, does not distinguish between advisories for pregnant women and consumption advice for the general population. FDA does not limit commercial seafood consumption for the general public. Further, the statement released by MPP incorrectly states that the FDA's Food Advisory Committee recommended that FDA limit consumption of canned tuna by the sensitive sub-population. In fact, the FAC requested that FDA review canned tuna consumption in the context of deciding whether specific advice was warranted.
The National Fisheries Institute is a non-profit trade association representing companies involved in all aspects of the fish and seafood industry.
