Mercury in Fish

Fish is a great source of many necessary nutrients, vitamins and essential fatty acids, and should be included in every balanced diet. Nevertheless, mercury level in fish has become an important issue when discussing children nutrition or food during pregnancyIts important to know which fish have the highest mercury content and which are safest to eat.  As a general rule, smaller fish that are lower down in the food chain tend to have lower mercury levels. Whereas fish that feed on other smaller fish are usually top of the list in mercury content.  Use this as a general indication and look below at our quick guide that includes the most common fish types.

 

Kids and fish

Highest Mercury

AVOID Eating these:

Grouper

Marlin

Orange Roughy

Tilefish

Swordfish

Shark

Mackerel (king)

 

Fish for children

High Mercury

Eat no more than 3 servings per month:

Bass

Saltwater Croaker

Halibut

Sea trout

Bluefish

Lobster

Tuna (canned white albacore, fresh bluefin, ahi)

Tuna mercury levels can be different based on the type of tuna and where it was caught.

 

 

Kids and fish

Low Mercury

Eat no more than 6 servings per month:

Carp

Mahi Mahi

Crab (dungeness, blue, snow)

Snapper

Herring

Monkfish

Perch (freshwater)

Skate

Cod

Tuna (canned chunk light, fresh Pacific albacore)

 

Mercury in fish for kids

Lowest Mercury

Enjoy up to 2 servings per week:

Anchovies

Butterfish

Calamari (squid)

Caviar (farmed)

Crab (king)

Pollock

Catfish

Whitefish

Perch (ocean)

Scallops

Flounder

Haddock

Hake

Herring

Lobster (spiny/rock)

Shad

Sole

Crawfish/Crayfish

Salmon

Shrimp

Clams

Tilapia

Oysters

Sardines

Sturgeon (farmed)

Trout (freshwater)