Red Alert on Canned Tuna: A Funny Fishy Tale
Well folks, grab your forks and don’t forget your life vests, because we’re about to plunge into a swirling sea of scandal involving none other than that pantry staple—canned tuna! Yes, you heard it right: the beloved tuna sandwich might not be swimming in the clear waters we thought it was. In a startling report, two noble associations, Bloom and Foodwatch, have sounded the alarm bells, and let me tell you, it’s less “Catch of the Day” and more “Catch of the Dismay.”
According to these heroes in the food safety realm, they examined 148 cans of tuna (because why stop at one, right?) and found out that—hold onto your fishing rods—100% of them were contaminated with mercury! Yes, every single can is swimming in this toxic gunk! What do we pay for this? High-quality protein? More like a mercury-laden trip to the emergency room! And while the standard maximum level for most fish is set at a comfy 0.3 mg/kg, tuna gets a generous limit of 1 mg/kg, but it seems our little fishy friends aren’t even sticking to that rule if a can from the Petit Navire brand is strutting around with nearly 3.9 mg/kg. Crikey, that’s a can of danger!
Danger Sniffs in the Sea
Now, dear readers, let’s not swim so fast past that mercury bit. It ain’t just shimmering aquatic glitter; we’re talking about methylmercury, which sounds like a character straight from a sci-fi flick. This stuff is particularly nasty, especially for the wee ones. We’re talking developmental delays and behavioral issues. Just what every parent wants to hear during dinner—“Do I want my child to grow up to be a rocket scientist or the next contestant on ‘Survivor: Nervous Breakdown Edition’?”
So, what about those fishy delights we hold so dear? The National Food Safety Agency (ANSES) has dropped some wisdom that’s both smart and savvy: munch on fish at least twice a week, but keep it a buffet rather than a tuna tear-jerker. You see, the health benefits of fish—think omega-3 goodness—are meant to outweigh the bad vibes from mercury. But if all we’re eating is tuna, you might as well be eating a handful of plutonium!”
Sisters Before Misters: The Pregnant Women’s Files
Now, let’s talk about the sensitive side of the ocean: pregnant women and young children. Oh boy, this is a tricky tide to navigate! General rule of thumb—if it’s a wild predatory fish like tuna or sea bream, you might want to steer clear. Here’s the kicker: these big boys have been munching on other contaminated fish, which means they’ve got enough methylmercury in their systems to fuel a small city! So while you’re out there trying to be a good parent, avoid that “Moby Dick” spinach and opt for the likeable salmon or sardines instead.
Yanis Darras / Photo credit: Cattalin / peaceabay.com 2:21 p.m., October 29, 2024, modified at 2:27 p.m., October 29, 2024
Red alert on canned tuna. In a report published this Tuesday morning, two associations are concerned about mercury levels in canned tuna. According to the NGOs Bloom and Foodwatch, out of “148 cans of canned goods (selected editor’s note), 100% of the cans are contaminated with mercury”. And the values observed far exceed the thresholds, they challenge. If for the majority of fish species, the maximum level set is 0.3 mg/kg, for tuna, it is set at 1 mg/kg for tuna.
But this limit is only set for fresh tuna and not for tuna processed to be canned. Thus, according to the report’s findings, a can of tuna from the Petit Navire brand showed a content of nearly 3.9 mg/kg. And these data are worrying, because mercury is permanently present in the oceans. This pollutant, emitted in particular by coal-fired power plants and other polluting human activities since the start of the industrial revolution, has contaminated the surface of the planet. Problem is, mercury, when diluted in water, transforms into methylmercury, a particularly toxic form of the pollutant.
Diversify the species consumed
Methylmercury is especially toxic to the human nervous system, especially in children. In high doses, it can cause mild behavioral problems or developmental delays. But if all the fish are contaminated, what quantities should we eat so as not to be too exposed?
To prevent the risk of too much exposure, ANSES, the National Food Safety Agency, advises eating fish at least twice a week, although combining several types of species. The health benefits of eating fish are therefore much greater than the impact of mercury on our body.
Thus, the agency recommends alternating between a fish with a high content of omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon or sardines, and another fish. ANSES also recommends diversifying fishing locations to limit too much exposure to an area too affected by mercury.
Specific rules for pregnant or breastfeeding women
On the other hand, for young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women, it is strongly recommended to limit their consumption of wild predatory fish, such as tuna or sea bream. Indeed, methylmercury accumulates in the organisms of individuals of these species as they eat their prey, which is also contaminated. Moreover, the organization emphasizes that it is important to avoid consuming so-called “large predatory” fish which are the most contaminated, such as sharks or swordfish.
