independent.co.uk
Mercury in Tuna: A Public Health Concern
High mercury levels found in tinned tuna prompt calls for stricter regulations and bans in public institutions.
English
United Kingdom
HealthRegulationFood SafetyHealth RiskMercuryTuna
BloomFoodwatchFood Standards AgencyEuropean CommissionEuropêche
Karine JacquemartMark Willis
- What actions are Bloom and Foodwatch calling for to address the issue?
- Bloom and Foodwatch advocate for stricter mercury limits in tuna, a ban on tuna in hospitals and schools, and increased transparency through clearer labeling.
- What were the findings of the recent study on mercury levels in tinned tuna?
- High mercury levels were found in all 148 tuna tins analyzed from five European countries by Bloom and Foodwatch, exceeding safety limits in 57% of samples.
- What accusations are being made against European authorities and the tuna industry?
- The organizations accuse European authorities of prioritizing the tuna industry's economic interests over public health, citing a mercury threshold for tuna three times higher than for other fish.
- How do the European Commission and industry representatives respond to the concerns?
- The European Commission maintains that current mercury limits are based on market monitoring and the principle of 'as low as reasonably achievable', while industry representatives dispute the findings and highlight selenium's neutralizing effect.
- What advice is given to pregnant women or those trying to conceive regarding tuna consumption?
- While the Food Standards Agency advises pregnant women and those trying to conceive to limit tuna consumption, the debate continues over the appropriate balance between public health and economic considerations.