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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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High Mercury Levels Found in Tuna Sushi

FDA reconsidering warnings on seafood mercury

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(Newser) – A quarter of tuna sushi sampled in New York contained mercury levels so high that the FDA could take legal action to ban the fish from the market, reports the New York Times.  Although the sushi was collected in New York City, experts believe samples elsewhere would be similar. “No one should eat a meal of tuna” more than once about every three weeks, said the professor who analyzed the samples.

Mercury has attracted attention over the last few years after the FDA warned pregnant women and small children not to eat too much mercury-bearing fish. Ongoing studies are underway, but no agency currently tests food products for mercury levels. “Maybe we won’t sell tuna sushi for a while, until we get to the bottom of this,” said one shopowner.

Fishermen unload their catch of tuna at Jimbaran beach Wednesday Dec. 5, 2007 in Bali, Indonesia. Tuna, 'apex predators' accumulate high levels of mercury from eating smaller fish. (AP Photo/Ed Wray)
Fishermen unload their catch of tuna at Jimbaran beach Wednesday Dec. 5, 2007 in Bali, Indonesia. Tuna, 'apex predators' accumulate high levels of mercury from eating smaller fish. (AP Photo/Ed Wray)   (Associated Press)
Fishermen unload a bluefin tuna in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, Canada, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. Tuna, 'apex predators,' accumulate high levels of mercury from eating smaller fish. (AP Photo/Andrew Vaughan, The Canadian Press)
Fishermen unload a bluefin tuna in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, Canada, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. Tuna, 'apex predators,' accumulate high levels of mercury from eating smaller fish. (AP Photo/Andrew Vaughan,...   (Associated Press)
Workers harvest blue fin tuna from Maricultura's tuna pens March. 5, 2007 near Ensenada, Mexico. Pacific bluefin tuna leave Japan's coastal waters and swim east to school off California and Mexico. They return by nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport as slabs of fresh toro, the
Workers harvest blue fin tuna from Maricultura's tuna pens March. 5, 2007 near Ensenada, Mexico. Pacific bluefin tuna leave Japan's coastal waters and swim east to school off California and Mexico. They...   (Associated Press)
Tuna, 'apex predators' accumulate high levels of mercury from eating smaller fish.
Tuna, 'apex predators' accumulate high levels of mercury from eating smaller fish.   (KRT Photos)
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A tuna-eating guideline
Natural Resources Defense Council

Consumer guidelines on canned tuna
Consumer Reports

As usual, LA did it first
Environment News Service

Organic food advocates ID'd this a while back
Organic Consumers Association


Science & Health 
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FDA • tuna • mercury • sushi • mercury poisoning

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