FAQs
Light and skipjack varieties, for instance, contain much less mercury on average than albacore tuna.
What canned tuna has the lowest mercury? ›
If you're concerned about limiting the amount of mercury you consume, and if you've eaten no other fish during the week, Consumer Reports says up to 12 ounces a week of Bumble Bee Chunk Light, Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light, Safe Catch Wild Elite, and StarKist Chunk Light tunas are the safer choices among the products ...
What is the best tuna to eat for mercury? ›
Canned light tuna is low in mercury and is considered one of the best choices for individuals that need to limit their exposure to mercury. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding can consume 2–3 servings of canned light tuna per week and children can consume 2 servings per week.
How much canned tuna can I eat without getting mercury poisoning? ›
Like most foods, it's okay to eat tuna in moderation. “According to the FDA, the average adult can safely eat about six to nine ounces of tuna per week,” says Dr. O'Neill. “That typically works out to one to two cans, depending on the size.”
Does light tuna have less mercury than white tuna? ›
We found that white-style tuna had significantly more total mercury (mean 0.407 ppm) than light-style tuna (mean 0.118 ppm), presumably reflecting that "white" tuna is albacore, a species relatively larger than the skipjack tuna, which is commonly available as "light" or "chunk light." The maximum mercury in a can was ...
Which is healthier, albacore or chunk light tuna? ›
Canned tuna is healthy: all types of tuna are high in protein and feature omega-3 fatty acids, yet lower in saturated fat and calories. However, albacore does have slightly more fat and calories than light tuna such as skipjack or yellowfin—which means it has more omega-3 fatty acids.
What is the safest canned fish to eat? ›
The most healthful choices on this list that are available canned include anchovies, Atlantic mackerel, clams, crab, oysters, sardines, shrimp, and trout. Canned seafood brands offer varying levels of testing to ensure lower mercury levels.
What is the safest canned tuna? ›
The FDA recommends consuming fish lower in mercury. For tuna varieties, skipjack earns the Best Choice label from the FDA, while yellowfin and albacore receive the Good Choice label. The FDA suggests avoiding bigeye tuna, which has the highest levels of mercury.
Is tuna in water or oil better? ›
Tuna salad calories and fat are higher, and oil-packed tuna contains more fat than water-packed, but a 1 oz serving of chunk light tuna in oil contains only 2.3 grams of total fat, while the same serving of chunk light tuna in water contains less than a gram.
Should I worry about mercury in canned tuna? ›
That's because, while canned tuna, especially light varieties, has relatively low average levels of mercury, individual cans can sometimes have much higher levels. “From can to can, mercury levels can spike in unpredictable ways that might jeopardize the health of a fetus,” says James E.
Treatment focuses on removing mercury from your body and could include receiving:
- Chelation therapy (removing metals from your body) via fluid through an IV.
- Oxygen through a face mask.
- Medicine to treat symptoms.
- Dialysis.
- Surgery to remove mercury.
What are symptoms of high mercury levels? ›
Symptoms of mercury poisoning
- tremors.
- headaches.
- difficulty sleeping.
- impaired sensations.
- muscle weakness and twitching.
- emotional changes (mood swings, irritability, nervousness)
- kidney damage.
- breathing difficulties.
How long does mercury from tuna stay in the body? ›
Once in the body mercury has a half-life of ~3 days in the blood stream and a 90 day half life in other tissues (e.g. brain, kidneys, etc).
What canned tuna is lowest in mercury? ›
Safe Catch's Original Elite Wild Tuna. Safe Catch Elite Tuna, simply the lowest mercury tuna of any brand.
What is a low-mercury alternative to tuna? ›
Mackerel
Mackerel is a guilt-free substitute for tuna. This mild-tasting, meaty fish is lower in mercury and sustainably sourced. Mackerel's texture and delicate flavor make it as versatile as tuna. The fish is flaky, moist and soft.
Is it okay to eat canned tuna every day? ›
Fish is a very healthy protein choice and eating canned tuna once or twice a week is safe. Canned tuna is an inexpensive source of protein that can be safely stored on your shelf. Tuna can contain small amounts of mercury but has many health benefits and is safe to eat a few times per week.
What canned tuna to avoid? ›
Out of the two most popular types of canned tuna — chunk light tuna and chunk white tuna — chunk white tuna has the highest levels of mercury. Mercury levels in chunk white tuna, such as albacore, can be up to three times higher than those found in "light" canned tuna products.
Is StarKist tuna high in mercury? ›
The standard for canned tuna is 1ppm (parts per million). Remember–this is 10x below what FDA has determined to be a safe level! All StarKist Tuna is well below FDA's 1ppm.
Does safe catch really have less mercury? ›
Safe Catch Elite tuna tests well below the limit and average mercury levels required to meet the “Low Mercury” criteria set by Consumer Reports for sensitive populations such as pregnant women and kids.
Does farm raised tuna have less mercury? ›
It's believed that farm-raised fish contain even less mercury due to being highly controlled. Yet, this depends on independent fish farms. Some take cautionary measures to prevent contaminations and exposure to toxins, while others don't. Additionally, wild-caught fish naturally contain some mercury.