Mercury in Fish
FSANZ has released updated advice on mercury in fish. The revised advice has been extended to provide not just advice for pregnant women, and women considering pregnancy, but also for young children and the general population.
The Australian Dietary Guidelines advise eating one or two fish meals per week for good health. The good news is that FSANZ has found it is safe for all population groups to eat 2-3 serves per week of most types of fish. There are only a few types of fish, which FSANZ recommends limiting in the diet – these are billfish (swordfish / broadbill and marlin), shark/flake, orange roughy and catfish.
FSANZ advises that pregnant women, women planning pregnancy and young children continue to consume a variety of fish as part of a healthy diet but limit their consumption of certain species.
Pregnant women, women planning pregnancy and young children should limit their intake of shark (flake), broadbill, marlin and swordfish to no more than one serve per fortnight with no other fish to be consumed during that fortnight. For orange roughy (also sold as sea perch) and catfish, the advice is to consume no more than one serve per week, with no other fish being consumed during that week.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand has prepared this advice based on the latest scientific information available to inform consumers about the presence of mercury in fish and to provide guidance on safe fish consumption.The details of the advice given for other countries may vary because the risk of mercury exposure from the diet depends on the environment in that country, the type of fish commonly caught and eaten, the patterns of fish consumption and the consumption of other foods that may also contain mercury.
The FSANZ ‘Advice on Fish Consumption’ has been specifically developed for the Australian population and reflects local knowledge of our diets, the fish we eat and their mercury content.
Number of serves of different types of fish that be can safely consumed
Pregnant women and women planning pregnancy 1 serve equals 150 grams# | Children (up to 6 years)
| Rest of the population
1 serve equals 150 grams # |
2 – 3 serves per week of any fish and seafood not listed below | 2 – 3 serves per week of a ny fish and seafood not listed in the column below | |
OR | OR | |
1 serve per week of Orange Roughy (Sea Perch) or Catfish and no other fish that week | 1 serve per week of Shark (Flake) or Billfish (Swordfish / Broadbill and Marlin) and no other fish that week | |
OR |
| |
1 serve per fortnight of Shark (Flake) or Billfish (Swordfish / Broadbill and Marlin) and no other fish that fortnight |
| |
# A 150 gram serve for adults and older children is equivalent to approximately 2 frozen crumbed fish portions.
A 75 gram serve for children is approximately 3 fish fingers (Hake or Hoki is used in fish fingers).
Canned fish is sold in various sizes; for example, the snack size cans of tuna are approximately 95 grams.
NOTE
The Australian Dietary Guidelines advise eating one or two fish meals per week.
If you are in doubt about the type of fish or boneless fish fillets you are purchasing, FSANZ recommends that you ask the retailer and confirm the name of the fish being supplied. This also applies when eating out.
Further information:
Brochure: Mercury in Fish [ pdf 73 kb low resolution * ]
Fact Sheet: Mercury in Fish - Further information ( 18 March 2004) [ Word | pdf ]
Media Release: FSANZ updates advice on mercury in fish (Australia only) (18 March 2004 )
New South Wales Food Authority provides a healthy fish message for women planning pregnancy and mums to be. This information can be found at http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumers/life-events-and-food/pregnancy/mercury-in-fish-campaign/
* Please note: A higher resolution pdf file is available for the brochure.