Fish consumption

“Concerned” scientists from
both sides of the Atlantic
are urging Margaret
Hamburg for the FDA to
complete its 2009 draft
assessment on fish
consumption for pregnant
women.
In a letter dated May 26, Prof
Tom Brenna from Cornell
University and Prof Michael
Crawford from the Institute of
Brain Chemistry and Human
Nutrition at London Metropolitan
University, UK, urge an “update
[to] the FDA’s 2004 advice about
fish consumption for fertile and
pregnant women”.
The letter, which can be read
here , says that advice issued in
2004 is now out of date and may
now be “inadvertently causing
harm”.
Speaking to NutraIngredients-
USA.com at the Celebration of
DHA event in London, Prof
Brenna explained that the 2004
advice for pregnant and fertile
women was issued to protect
the developing fetus from the
harms of methyl-mercury
pollutants in fish.
“The core problem is that the
benefits of fish could not be
appropriately considered in
2004, ” state the scientists.
“Current science has advanced
to the point where it is no
longer consistent with the
recommendation to limit
consumption of all fish to a
maximum of 12 ounces per week
for pregnant and lactating
women and women who may
become pregnant.
“There is persuasive new
evidence that consumption of
more than 12 ounces per week
of most marketplace species will
actually improve fetal
neurodevelopment. This
improvement occurs in spite of
methyl-mercury in most, if not all
fish.
“We commend FDA for its history
of willingness to modify that
advice when warranted by new
information. The time for the
next update has come, ” states
the letter.
Since the 2004 advice was
issued, however, the science has
moved on considerably, said Prof
Brenna, and the scientists are
now encouraging “FDA to
complete work on this
assessment on a priority basis”.
The letter states: “Over a year
ago, the FDA published its draft
assessment based on this new
approach. It produced estimates
of the benefits and risks of fish
consumption that were generally
consistent with the current
research findings. FDA has said
that it will not consider updates
to the 2004 advice until it has
addressed all the comments on
the published draft and
completed the new assessment.
Consequently, we encourage FDA
to complete work on this
assessment on a priority basis.
Mothers and children worldwide
deserve your best efforts to
provide advice consistent with
the best science available.”