Levels of toxic mercury in canned tuna is so 'unpredictable' pregnant women ... trends now
Mercury levels in canned tuna are 'unpredictable' and pregnant women should avoid eating them to be safe, according to a report.
An investigation by Consumer Reports tested 30 cans of skipjack and albacore tuna from five popular brands, including Bumble Bee, StarKist and Chicken of the Seas.
Every single one contained mercury, but there were wide fluctuations in levels between cans — even those in the same brand. Three cans contained so much mercury that researchers said they should not be eaten at all.
James Rogers, the watchdog's director of food safety research, said: 'From can to can, mercury levels can spike in unpredictable ways that might jeopardize the health of a fetus.' The mercury levels Consumer Reports found were within FDA standards, which say pregnant people can eat canned tuna in limited quantities.
It comes after the watchdog revealed last month that popular dark chocolate brands, including Tony's Chocoloney, Trader Joe's and Lindt contain lead.
An investigation has revealed that tuna cans contain unpredictable levels of mercury and pregnant women should avoid them altogether
Mercury is particularly dangerous to developing fetuses because the heavy metal can interfere with their young brains and bodies — leaving them at risk of learning problems and a loss of hearing and vision.
It also poses a risk to adults and can damage their nervous systems, intestines and kidneys, which can lead to tremors, insomnia, memory loss and muscle weakness among others.
Mercury occurs naturally in the oceans, meaning that there will always be some present in seafood like tuna.
But levels have tripled in parts of the ocean since the Industrial Revolution. Experts say rain moves mercury from the atmosphere into the ocean, which is then taken up by organisms.
As these are consumed by other organisms, it builds up into higher concentrations further up the food chain. Tuna are a predatory fish, meaning they end up with far higher concentrations in their bodies.
Skipjack — which is the name for smaller and younger tuna — have lower levels because they have eaten fewer fish. But albacore — the older individuals — contain more because they have eaten more fish.
In their investigation, Consumer Reports tested three cans of albacore and light tuna stored in water from five brands. These were Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, StarKist, Safe Catch, and Wild Planet.
Each had the water drained before testing.
Results showed that, on average, albacore contained three times more mercury than the skipjack/light tuna alternatives.
Broken down by brand, Chicken of the Sea's albacore tuna had ten times more mercury than its light tuna alternatives.
But at the other end of the scale, there was very little
