The Tuna Foundation issued a statement in response to recent claims that FDA's methylmercury tolerance level is too high to protect consumers, including the Bill Moyers show that aired on PBS on July 18th.
In addition to the health benefits, the statement also noted:
Canned tuna is a safe food for all consumers. The tuna industry endorses the FDA guideline on mercury content. Being very conservative and cautious in protecting public health, the FDA has set its consumption advice at the 1 ppm level -- which is 10 times lower than the lowest level associated with health problems (specifically mercury poisoning). This conservative approach ensures protection of everyone -- adults, children and unborn babies.
Studies are conducted regularly to monitor levels of chemical contaminants in foods. In the U.S., the Total Diet Study, conducted by the FDA, regularly tests samples of canned tuna each year. Each sample is a mixture of cans of tuna from across the country, from different stores, and different processors. This test is done about four times annually to ensure that food consumed by Americans is safe.
The recently released Seychelles Island study was conducted over a nine- year period and studied 779 mother/infant pairs in a population with very high fish consumption. The study found no adverse effects from mercury.
The United Nation's World Health Organization recently endorsed this important study when it established an international mercury guideline based on the Seychelles information. The Annapolis Center study found that the FDA guideline on mercury content 'ensures' public safety, and that basing regulations on any stricter standard would be 'neither necessary nor prudent.' These studies substantiate that the mercury in canned tuna does not pose a risk to consumer health, and the FDA guideline is appropriate.