Safe Catch Elite Wild Tuna – Lowest Mercury of Any Brand Meets Consumer Reports 'Low Mercury' Criteria set for sensitive populations such as pregnant women and children.
Canned light tuna is in the “Best Choices” category as it is usually a mix of smaller tuna species, most often skipjack. Meanwhile, albacore (or white) tuna and yellowfin tuna are in the “Good Choices” category, and bigeye tuna is in the “Choices to Avoid” category.
While mercury levels varied, the Consumer Reports study found significantly lower levels among cans of light and skipjack tuna than albacore tuna. The National Fisheries Institute told Consumer Reports that the mercury levels found in the study were much lower than the FDA limit, saying it is safe to eat.
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 ...
There are two main kinds of canned tuna: chunk light and solid or chunk white (albacore). Mercury levels in canned white tuna, which is exclusively albacore, are almost three times higher than those found in smaller skipjack tuna commonly used in canned light tuna products.
One big takeaway is that albacore has much more mercury than light or skipjack tuna, regardless of the brand. That's not surprising, since albacore is larger and lives longer than the tunas that make up the light tuna or skipjack tunas.
Experts recommend that you eat no more than the following each week: four medium-sized cans of tuna (with a drained weight of 140g, or 5oz, per can) OR. two fresh tuna steaks (weighing about 170g, or 6oz, raw or 140g when cooked)
Tuna: if you are trying for a baby or are pregnant, you should have no more than 4 cans of tuna a week or no more than 2 tuna steaks a week. This is because tuna contains higher levels of mercury than other fish. If you are breastfeeding, there is no limit on how much tuna you can eat.
Note: Commercial mayonnaise, dressing, and sauces contain pasteurized eggs that are safe to eat.
Pouch containers have the same kind of tuna as cans, but pouches were not tested. There was a wide range of mercury levels between types — light and albacore — and brands. Albacore had higher levels of mercury in all brands, not surprisingly because the fish are larger, according to CR.
Pregnant women in the U.S. eat less than 2 ounces of seafood weekly. Canned and pouched tuna is a great seafood option because it is an incredibly versatile pantry staple.
Good news, it's safe to eat tuna in pregnancy.
Tuna is a saltwater fish related to mackerel. There are around eight different commercial varieties that range in size from the small skipjack tuna to the large bluefin, and it is one of the most widely eaten fish in the world. Tuna can be eaten fresh – either raw or cooked – and canned (which is always pre-cooked).
It is safe to eat cream cheese because it is made from pasteurized milk, which is safe during pregnancy. In addition, cream cheese is not a soft cheese but a cheese spread, which is very different.
Subway's tuna sandwiches (usually tuna mayo) are fine for pregnant women to eat. If you're adding salad, stick to the items that are prepped in-store, like the peppers, cucumbers and onions, rather than the lettuce, which is pre-prepared and bagged offsite.
Choose fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury such as salmon, trout, tilapia, cod, sole, sardines, shrimp, oysters, and other shellfish. For the most health benefits, choose fatty fish such as salmon, trout, herring, chub mackerel, and sardines. o These fish have healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Women should not consume excessive amounts of seafood in pregnancy (ie, no more than 2 weekly average size servings). Hair mercury level above 0.3 μg/g indicates a potentially excessive body burden.
Can pregnant women eat canned salmon? Yep, canned salmon is safe to eat during pregnancy because it's pasteurized during the canning process and sealed in a sterile environment. If you're watching your portion size, measure the drained weight rather than the total weight of the can.
You would have to eat around 25 tins (at 95g a tin) of it a week before you hit the maximum tolerable intake of mercury. For pregnant people (or people trying to get pregnant), the limit would be around 12 tins (at 95g a tin) a week.
Solid White Albacore Tuna, also known as white tuna, possesses a firm and steaky texture. With its lighter colored flesh, commonly found in large albacore tuna, Solid White Albacore Tuna has a mild and fresh-tasting flavor that is great on its own, or in almost any recipe that calls for tuna.