Statement on the benefits of fish/seafood consumption compared to the risks of methylmercury in fish/seafood

Abstract

13(1):3982Suggested citation: EFSA Scientific Committee, 2015. Statement on the benefits of fish/seafood consumption compared to the risks of methylmercury in fish/seafood. ABSTRACTFollowing a request from the European Commission to carry out a risk benefit analysis as regards the risks and benefits to human health of fish/seafood consumption related to methylmercury, the EFSA Scientific Committee used previous work performed by the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain and the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies to create scenarios based on typical fish consumption patterns of population groups at risk of exceeding the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for methylmercury. The Scientific Committee then estimated how many servings of fish/seafood per week these population groups would need to reach the TWI for methylmercury and the dietary reference value (DRV) for n-3 (Long-Chain) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (LCPUFA). When consuming species with a high methylmercury content, only a few numbers of servings (<1-2) can be eaten before reaching the TWI, which may be attained before the DRV. To protect against inter alia neurodevelopmental toxicity of methylmercury and achieve the benefits of fish consumption (effect of fish/seafood consumption during pregnancy on functional outcomes of children's neurodevelopment and on cardiovascular diseases in adults), which are associated with 1-4 fish servings per week, fish/seafood species with a high content of mercury in the daily diet should be limited. Because a variety of fish species are consumed across Europe, it is not possible to make general recommendations on fish consumption. The Scientific Committee therefore recommends that each country needs to consider its own pattern of fish consumption, especially the species of fish consumed, and carefully assess the risk of exceeding the TWI of methylmercury while obtaining the health benefits from consumption of fish/seafood. SUMMARYIn December 2012, EFSA received a request from the European Commission to carry out a risk benefit analysis as regards the risks and benefits to human health of fish/seafood consumption related to methylmercury. As the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) had adopted a scientific opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food (EFSA CONTAM Panel, 2012) the month before, the mandate was given to the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) who evaluated the beneficial effects of fish/seafood consumption in relation to health outcomes (effect of fish/seafood consumption during pregnancy on functional outcomes of children's neurodevelopment and the effects of fish/seafood consumption on cardiovascular diseases in adults) (EFSA NDA Panel, 2014). Having reviewed the conclusions of these two opinions during the 68 th Plenary meeting of the Scientific Committee (8-9 July 2014), a decision was made that the Scientific Committee would produce a scientific statement, using the CONTAM and NDA Pan...

Assessment of Mercury Intake from Fish Meals Based on Intervention Research in the Polish Subpopulation

“…One of neurotoxicants that have received most attention with this respect is methylmercury (MeHg). The risk assessment for MeHg is based primarily on the data obtained in the past, i.e., on epidemiological studies (large-scale), which related to fish consumption among pregnant/breastfeeding mothers/children [2]. …”

Risk–Benefit Assessment of Monomethylmercury and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake for Ringed Seal Consumption with Particular Emphasis on Vulnerable Populations in the Western Canadian Arctic

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The seafood market in Portugal: Driving forces and consequences

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