Health Canada has warned Canadians to further limit their consumption of certain types of fish that may contain high levels of mercury.
The new guidelines suggest Canadians limit their intake of predator fish to 150 grams (5 ounces) per week; including tuna, shark, swordfish, escolar, marlin and orange roughy.
Previously these predator fish were exempt from Health Canada's federal mercury content standards, because Health Canada felt they weren't a standard part of Canadian's diets. However, changing consumer tastes suggests these fish are now being consumed more often.
Here are the new recommendations for consumption of predator fish (tuna, shark, swordfish, escolar, marlin and orange roughy):
- Canadians limit their intake to 150 grams (5 ounces) per week of predator fish.
- Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and women who might become pregnant should limit their intake to 150 grams (5 ounces) per month.
- Children aged 5 to 11 can eat 125 grams (4.5 ounces) of these fish per month.
- Children aged 1 to 4 should eat no more than 75 grams (3 ounces) of these fish per month.
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