The Washington Post reported on Friday that the FDA has concluded that the greatest benefits to pregnant women and women of childbearing age would come from eating more fish/seafood, writes James Ferre of AusFoodNews. There has previously been advice from food standards bodies to moderate consumption during pregnancy due to fears about mercury.
We have discussed this issue in detail at our last two World Seafood Congresses (Sydney 2005 and Dublin 2007) and it would be excellent if we could be reporting at our next Congress in Agadir, Morocco (5-10 October 2009) that the issue is well on its way to being resolved, Ms Gallagher told the news agency.
The scientific evidence is irresistible on this matter, so much so, that in Dublin we made a unanimous call for all Public Health Authorities to reassess the benefits versus risks regarding mercury in seafood due to growing evidence that fish consumption can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and can benefit neurodevelopment in the fetus and young children such that reduced or eliminated consumption of fish could actually impose risks.
We urge all Government Agencies around the world in charge of dietary guidelines matters to review their current status because the latest scientific evidence shows that the real risk to women and children is not eating enough seafood, Ms Gallagher suggested.
Seafood Science to Improve Image in US
US - President of IAFI, Jayne Gallagher, has welcomed news that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised the USA Government to amend its seafood advisory based on the latest science.
