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Overview of the Draft FDA/EPA
Methylmercury (MeHg) Consumer Advisory
Presented
at the Dec. 10-11 FAC Meeting
Today’s Action:
- FDA and EPA are presenting a draft of the revised consumer advisory
for the at-risk population on the risks of methylmercury in fish to the Food
Advisory
Committee (FAC). This is significant because it is the first time FDA
and EPA have combined their advice into a single uniform advisory. Previously
FDA
issued
an advisory on consumption of commercially caught fish, while EPA issued
advice on recreationally caught fish.
- FDA and EPA are revising the advisory as a result of recommendations
FDA received from the Food Advisory Committee in July 2002. At that meeting
the FAC offered
a number of recommendations intended to improve the clarity and understandability
of the then current advisory. One of the suggestions was that FDA and
EPA combine their two independent advisories.
Consumer Message:
- Fish and shellfish can be important parts of a healthy and balanced
diet. They are good sources of high quality protein and other nutrients;
however, the
amount and type of fish you consume may need to be modified if you are
pregnant, planning to become pregnant, nursing, or a young child. With a
few simple
adjustments, you can continue to enjoy these foods in a manner that is healthy
and beneficial.
- By following the advisory, consumers can maintain a healthy diet and
protect the health of their unborn or young child at the same time.
- The purpose of the advisory is to change the behavior of the at-risk
population by raising public awareness. The advisory, if followed, is expected
to result
in a decrease in blood mercury levels in women of child-bearing age.
The Advisory:
- Pregnant women, women who might become pregnant, and nursing mothers
should follow 3 rules:
- 1. DON’T EAT shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish because
they contain high levels of mercury
- 2. Levels of mercury in other fish can vary. You can safely eat up to
12 ounces (2 to 3 meals) of other purchased fish and shellfish a week.
Mix up the types
of fish and shellfish you eat and do not eat the same type of fish
and shellfish more than once a week.
- 3. Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by
family and friends in your local rivers and streams. If no advice is
available,
you can safely
eat up to 6 ounces (one meal per week of fish you catch from local
waters,
but don’t consume any other fish during that week.
- Follow the
same rules when feeding fish and shellfish to your young child, but
the serving sizes should be smaller.
The difference between this advisory and previous advisories:
1. The recommendation to mix up the types of fish consumed
2. The advice not to eat any other fish in the same week as locally caught
fish are consumed (the advice on the amount of locally caught fish to eat
is the same as in the 2001 EPA advisory)
3. The advisory for the first time addresses mercury levels in tuna in the
form of a Question and Answer. The advice given for tuna is as follows:
Q: What about tuna?
A: Tuna is one of the most frequently consumed fish in the United States.
Mercury levels in tuna vary. Tuna steaks and canned albacore tuna generally
contain
higher levels of mercury than canned light tuna. You can safely include
tuna as part of your weekly fish consumption
What the Risk is:
High levels of methylmercury in the bloodstream of the fetus and young children
can cause adverse effects on the developing nervous system of the child.
By following the advisory parents protect the health of their unborn or
young child while at the same time maintaining a healthy diet.
General Methylmercury Information:
- The methylmercury described in the advisory is not the same type of
mercury found in some thermometers or in dental amalgam.
- Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the environment and is also
released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury that falls from
the air can accumulate in streams and oceans. Bacteria in the water cause chemical
changes that transform mercury into methylmercury. Fish absorb the methylmercury
as they feed in these waters. Methylmercury builds up more in some fish
than others depending on what they eat. High levels of methylmercury can be harmful
to your baby.
- Fish is the main source of mercury exposure to humans and is in the
form of methylmercury. Other forms of mercury, such as that in dental amalgams
are
minor contributors to human mercury exposure.
General Dietary Advice:
- FDA recommends that consumers eat a balanced diet, choosing a variety
of foods that are low in trans fat and saturated fat and rich in high fiber
grains, fruits and vegetables. Fish and shellfish can be an important part of
this
diet.
What’s Next:
- A final version of the new consumer advisory is expected to publish
in early 2004.
-
FDA and EPA are planning a comprehensive educational campaign to reach these
targeted groups (directly with a consumer brochure, through women’s doctors,
and in partnership with women’s health and professional associations).
FDA will contact newspapers, magazines and other popular media, especially
those read by pregnant women to interest those outlets in featuring the methylmercury
advisory’s safety message.
Other:
The revised advisory has been tested in eight focus groups in four different
regions of the United States to test the draft advisory. Based on responses
we received we have further modified the draft advisory so that it is more
easily understood.
For more information:
-
For more information about the risks of mercury in fish and shellfish call
the FDA’s Food Information Hotline toll-free at 1-888-SAFEFOOD or
visit FDA’s Food Safety website at www.cfsan.fda.gov.
You can also find information on EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/ost/fish.
