According to Consumer Reports, however, the FDA guidelines may be in need of a refresh. The spikes found in the Consumer Reports investigation remain safe under FDA guidelines, and the FDA currently lists light canned tuna as a “best choice” option for pregnant or breast-feeding individuals or young children. If eating two or three servings a week, serving sizes should not contain more than 0.15 mcg/g mercury, according to the FDA. Mercury is a type of elemental metal found in the Earth’s crust that’s toxic to humans. Per the FDA, a pregnant person should not consume more than 0.46 mc/g of mercury per 4-ounce serving of fish, if eating one serving of this fish a week. Mercury poisoning occurs when your body is exposed to too much mercury. īecause of these risks, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already sets guidelines on how much mercury should be consumed during pregnancy. Ĭonsuming high levels of mercury is particularly harmful to people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as mercury toxicity can impact the fetus’ neurological development, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The investigation found that five common tuna brands-Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, StarKist, Safe Catch, and Wild Planet-contained higher than usual mercury levels in some cans, despite the brands’ average low levels.
