1. Shark
This means any type of meat eating shark such as Longfin Mako, Shortfin Mako, Blacktip, or common Thresher shark. Because sharks are at or near the top of the food chain, they consume other types of fish as their main source of food. This means whatever mercury and contaminates are in the fish they eat accumulate in the bodies of sharks.
It’s ironic that many people eat shark products such as soups, health drinks, pill supplements, and even shark steaks, believing that shark is a healthy meat. In fact, this terrible misconception is so prevalent that one of the world’s largest insurance companies added shark steaks, while at the famous Taste of Chicago food fest, as one of their recommendations as a “healthy” food. The exact opposite is true. Shark meats, and all shark products, are unfit for human consumption.
In fact, if you read the numerous studies available on this subject, there is absolutely no scientific evidence that eating shark, or taking supplements in any way, will provide any medicinal benefits whatsoever.
2. Swordfish
This is another very large fish that eats other contaminated fish as their natural diet.
Although swordfish is hugely popular, this beautiful, tropical fish has been found to contain some of the highest levels of mercury among all larger sized edible fish. These fish contain high levels of a very strong neurotoxin called methyl mercury. This toxin can easily cross the placenta in pregnant women, and has the potential to damage the nervous system of the unborn fetus.
Recent studies have shown that excessively high blood levels of mercury can be traced to high or frequent consumption of swordfish. One study was performed in San Francisco and involved 123 subjects who eat 30 different types of fish. Those with frequent consumption of swordfish had the highest blood mercury levels that were over and above the maximum amount recommended by the National Academy of Sciences as well as the United States Environmental Protections Agency. This study was published in April of 2003 in Environmental Health Perspectives.
3. King Mackerel
This voracious predator is definitely on the no-no list. Even though the Florida Department of Health Secretary Robert G. Brooks believes that it’s “virtually impossible” to get enough mercury from this fish because they are caught far out in the ocean, he’s wrong. Mercury builds up in the body. The findings are consistent and King Mackerel contain high levels of mercury.
Researchers suspect that mercury, which comes mainly from industrial sources such as waste incinerators, the manufacturing of chlorine, and coal plants, is being spread through the air and eventually ends up in the water.
The longer the lifespan of the fish, as well as the larger it grows, the more mercury that fish will accumulate in their lifetime. King Mackerel have a migratory path that runs from South Florida to North Carolina.
King Mackerel, sometimes called Kingfish, are a common part of sport fishing. Although some authorities feel that it’s safe to eat this fish if it’s less than 33 inches long and weighs 10 pounds or less, you should consider that there are plenty of other types of fish that can be safely consumed without worrying if that mackerel came from a 10 or 15 pound fish. Avoid this fish as it’s better to be safe than sorry.
4. Tilefish
There are a great variety of this species of fish, and the EPA makes no distinction between them. So when they warn people, especially small children, women, and pregnant women, to avoid eating it, you better just skip all varieties to be safe.
Atlantic tilefish, a yummy predator that ranges from the Gulf of Mexico to New England, appears to be OK, but unless you know for certain exactly which species you are eating, you are better off just writing this one off.
Tilefish, despite the warnings about excessive mercury contamination, is often seen on restaurant menus. Tilefish are popular because it’s a mild tasting, white meat fish that has a flavor similar to crabs or lobsters and tends to be a little sweet.
Mercury contamination is a serious problem for many of the states in the Deep South and in South Carolina where slow coastal rivers are the perfect environment for the buildup of mercury in local fish. People who regularly eat fish that are contaminated with mercury can suffer brain damage, as well as disorders of the central nervous system. Young children and the fetuses of pregnant women are especially susceptible to mercury poisoning.
5. Albacore Tuna or Tuna Steaks
Tuna is a tricky one to keep track of, as some species seem to be OK, while others are downright scary. Albacore Tuna contamination runs around the middle of the scale so if you are a tuna lover, eat no more than six ounces of this fish every week.
There are two types of canned tuna: solid or chunk white, which is albacore tuna, and chunk light. Almost all canned white tuna is albacore tuna. The mercury levels are almost three times higher than canned light tuna. It gets confusing, so use the following list as a guideline:
- Canned White (albacore) – It’s suggested that children between 6 and 12 can eat up to 9 ounces per month. Women should eat no more than three 6 ounce portions per month, and men can eat three 8 ounce portions.
- Canned Light – This is a safer choice but look out for cans that are marked as “gourmet” or “tonno” tuna, as these come from the larger yellowfin tuna and have much higher mercury levels.
In fact, why not play it safe; instead of canned tuna, why not eat canned salmon? It’s low in mercury and high in those heart healthy omega-3fatty acids. Pink or Sockeye salmon from Alaska are wild caught, sustainable, and about the same price as canned tuna.
NEXT: Safe Fish List
