There has been a recent DNA test done on the fish that the consumer thinks they are buying or eating and receiving a different specie.
This news is astounding, due to some of the risk associated with certain species of fish. Women who are at child bearing ages, pregnant, and children should not intake mercury. Certain fish have high levels of mercury and they are: shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish. Mercury can affect the development of an unborn baby or a young child's nervous system.
What is Mercury or Methylmercury?
Mercury occurs naturally and is released into the air by industrial pollution and falls into streams and oceans. Then it is turned into methylmercury and fish absorb it while they feed and it builds up in the fish. The build up amount depends on the specie of the fish and what they eat. Larger fish contain higher levels, due to being around longer. Humans also can accumulate methylmercury in their blood stream some is removed naturally, but it can take years to see a significant drop. This is the reason that warnings about certain fish puts a women in child bearing years at risk.
To find out more about what fish to eat and stay away from here is a link from FDA and the EPA.
EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). (October 6, 2011). What You Need to Know about Mercury in Fish and Shellfish. Retrieved October 29, 2011, from http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/outreach/advice_index.cfm#what
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