New findings on Mercury in Tuna

**TrojanMan60563** · 12-13-2005, 07:32 AM

I just read on www.chicagotribune.com that the FDA has been under-playing the dangers and amounts of mercury in the canned and fresh tuna(and other fish) that we eat. The paper had tests ran on all the different fish throughout the Chicagoland area and the results would show that the majority of the fish out there are so high in mercury the FDA should be pulling it from shelves according to the EPA levels of what is acceptable. Anyways they have a calculator on the website and according to it me being male and 260lbs I should NOT consume more then 9.7 OZ of canned tuna per week. That is the limit of what is safe after they concluded the true amount in our food. That is not much tuna people...like 1.5 cans. That is for a guy my size.....for a girl 130lbs you shouldn't have more then 4.9 OZ.....that is less then a can. 1 standard can is 6oz of tuna. On the site it goes over the risks involved in eating such high levels of mercury, and that calculator is probably a great thing for all of us to use if you like to eat fish. It calculates all different types of common fishes. Like for instance I should only consume 9.7oz canned tuna yet its safe for me to consume 97.1oz of Salmon. So if you all like eating fish maybe you should look into something other then canned tuna because its not good for you like people have been thinking....you can't eat much of it without it becoming unsafe. IMO you'd be safer eating a steak everyday. With so many better choices of protein out there I can't see a good reason to eat fish anymore...I take my flax oil to get my omegas so from now on I am going to deep six the fish from my diet unless I splurge and eat fresh salmon....and that isn't going to be often as I am a bargin eater....hope this helps someone....I suggest going to the website and reading.

**cpush** · 12-13-2005, 09:33 AM

well according to this calculator, one can eat almost 3x more canned light tuna (what I, and most others I know eat) than albacore.

So if that 130 girl can only have 4oz of albacore a week, she can have almost 12oz of canned light tuna.

**Jodi** · 12-13-2005, 09:35 AM

I eat the light tuna for this very reason.

**cpush** · 12-13-2005, 09:45 AM

Me too.. but I still eat around 25oz of canned chunk light a week :\ I should start cutting that back... I basically eat about a half a can a day.

**dougnukem** · 12-13-2005, 10:39 AM

Eh, the article was run in the Trib, who own the Cubs. And as a Cubs fan, I know you can't trust them. Besides, most of the meats you buy are from animals that probably were tampered with in some way.
True Story

**Tha Don** · 12-13-2005, 11:46 AM

so what are the health risks of too much mercury?

i eat 2 cans of tuna a day, everyday, it is by far the most convenient source of lean protein for myself (besides whey), i'm a 190lb male, am i consuming too much?

**Gordo** · 12-13-2005, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by young d

so what are the health risks of too much mercury?

i eat 2 cans of tuna a day, everyday, it is by far the most convenient source of lean protein for myself (besides whey), i'm a 190lb male, am i consuming too much?

It affects mostly brain related functions....memory, vision, CNS problems but it has to be pretty severe mercury poisioning.

**cpush** · 12-13-2005, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by young d

so what are the health risks of too much mercury?

i eat 2 cans of tuna a day, everyday, it is by far the most convenient source of lean protein for myself (besides whey), i'm a 190lb male, am i consuming too much?

well you are consuming 12oz a day; it is recommended that amount should be consumed in a week, so...

**myCATpowerlifts** · 12-13-2005, 01:17 PM

I have friends who eat 3 cans a day.
Fuck that report.

**Jodi** · 12-13-2005, 01:29 PM

Yeah I think anymore than a can a day will hurt. These are some serious risks. Bodybuilding is not just about getting big, it's about being healthy too and if you are willing to risk your life/health over "looking big" then you should do some serious thinking as to what is more important. We all have rearranged our life to live this healthy lifestyles and this is just another road block. Take a detour instead on this one and find another alternative to tuna. Keep your health in mind.

**cpush** · 12-13-2005, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by myCATpowerlifts

I have friends who eat 3 cans a day.
Fuck that report.

Are you serious? That is like saying "I have friends who smoke 3 packs of cigarettes a day. Fuck that report." Sure they are here and healthy at the present moment, but instant effects aren't the concern here.

I registered for the site and read the "How safe is tuna?" article. It convinced me. Here is an excerpt containing a rebuke to my previously posted defense of "light" tuna:

Government and industry officials repeatedly have stated that canned light tuna is a healthy, low-mercury fish. But they do not tell consumers that about 15 percent of all canned light tuna sold is made with yellowfin, a high-mercury tuna species.

Industry officials said these cans, often marketed as a gourmet product but not always labeled as such, contain about 0.35 parts per million of mercury--the same as albacore canned tuna, for which there is an FDA warning. Mercury levels in yellowfin are on average about three times higher than those in canned light tuna made with skipjack.

I eat 4 cans a week, which is 24oz. This is an easy and cheap source of protein and especially nice for college students (like myself) who can easily store it in their dorms, and easily afford it. This article has convinced me to cut it way back, if not out, of my diet.

Now the trick is to find a substitute. Something as cheap, and as easy to store would be nice. I'll probably up my CC intake, and I'm guessing increasing whey consumption isn't the best alternative either.

Any suggestions for a poor college student Jodie?

**lnvanry** · 12-13-2005, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by Jodi

Yeah I think anymore than a can a day will hurt. These are some serious risks. Bodybuilding is not just about getting big, it's about being healthy too and if you are willing to risk your life/health over "looking big" then you should do some serious thinking as to what is more important. We all have rearranged our life to live this healthy lifestyles and this is just another road block. Take a detour instead on this one and find another alternative to tuna. Keep your health in mind.

Jodi, You are one of the most knowledgable people of this forum, but have you taken a good look at the people in the sport of BB...c'mon every person I know that competes sacrifices his/her health all the time. Do you think getting your BF down to 4% is healthy....how about pulling 10lbs of water weight in less than 48hrs? For the majority of BBs, health is not on the top list of priorities...

sad but so true

**boilermaker** · 12-13-2005, 02:46 PM

I agree that Mercury poisoning is a serious concern that can lead to major health problems later in life. But, you also have to take some things with a grain of salt. For instance, artifical sweeteners cause cancer in lab rats. However, to reach the levels that cause damage in a human, you would have to drink the equivelant of 100 cans of artificially sweetened soda every day for a lifetime. Yet, the product was labeled that it contains cancer causing ingredients. Stories like this are meant to sell newspapers as much as anything else. You can bend statistics to make them say whatever you would like.

Government and industry officials repeatedly have stated that canned light tuna is a healthy, low-mercury fish. But they do not tell consumers that about 15 percent of all canned light tuna sold is made with yellowfin, a high-mercury tuna species.

What the newspaper doesn't tell consumers is that the yellowfin tuna sold for canned tuna products are mostly 2 year old fish. Why?. Because the larger fish have a higher fat content in their flesh, better color and better texture. These fish are sold to consumers and restaurants as steaks or loins. More money. The younger yellowfin have not been around long enough to accumulate high levels of mercury. Mercury compounds in the fish over time. The fish isn't saturated with it when it is hatched. Also, many tests for mercury and other contaminants are performed on the ground up remains of an entire fish. Metals reside primarily in the fatty portions of the fish and the organs that digest food. It is built up in a compounding fashion over time and thus, the age of the fish and its diet are as important as the species.

**Stu** · 12-13-2005, 03:08 PM

If i paid attention to these over hyped 'studies' i would be more worried about the effect of a high protien diet on my kidneys than the amount of mercury i am consuming, but thankfully i dont so im just gonna carry on enjoying my life.

**Vieope** · 12-13-2005, 03:25 PM

Where all those mercury come from?

**Gordo** · 12-13-2005, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by Vieope

Where all those mercury come from?

Pulp and paper industry
Coal and fossil fuel industry
Your fillings
thermometers
"mercury switches"
and it occurs naturally in the environment....

it all adds up though.

The good news is that your body can naturally rid itself of mercury provided you haven't had a toxic dose and overwhelmed your organs.

**r0dxx** · 12-13-2005, 05:08 PM

I'm confused, I thought salmon had alot of mercury as well? On the site it shows average salmon to be 0.03 which is pretty much nothing compared to tuna.

What kind of salmon are they talking about? Canned? Fresh?

Is canned salmon 0.03 as well? If so I'll just buy canned salmon for now on...

**NEW_IN_THE_GAME** · 12-13-2005, 05:17 PM

damn i eat 2-3 cans a day sometimes more. well i gues it is time to cut back on that shit. i usuall eat it with miracle whip light(1.5g fat, .5g polyunsat) and whole wheat bread, along with an apple and half a cup of almonds. well maybe i will switch to salmon or cod, maybe halibit.

**dougnukem** · 12-13-2005, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by r0dxx

I'm confused, I thought salmon had alot of mercury as well? On the site it shows average salmon to be 0.03 which is pretty much nothing compared to tuna.

What kind of salmon are they talking about? Canned? Fresh?

Is canned salmon 0.03 as well? If so I'll just buy canned salmon for now on...

NOT ONLY THAT, (whoops caps lock) but it depends what type of salmon and where it was raised. Same goes for the tuna. Safest place to get fish from is the Great Lakes.

No, seriously, these tests don't always take into account all the variables, and if they do, the media isn't always forthcoming with providing this tidbit of info. So I'm with boilermaker on this one.

**TrojanMan60563** · 12-13-2005, 06:00 PM

I used to eat two cans of white albacore per day....now its chicken, steak, or eggs for this kid. I realize the media hypes up thing but this is a study that was performed not just the opinion of some reporter.

If I was a college kid I would switched to canned chicken breast if I had to have something in a can. Or even the canned salmon occationally. The chicken is a bit high in sodium but I've seen it in huge quantity at Sams Club..

**Vieope** · 12-13-2005, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Gordo

Pulp and paper industry
Coal and fossil fuel industry
Your fillings
thermometers
"mercury switches"
and it occurs naturally in the environment....

it all adds up though.

The good news is that your body can naturally rid itself of mercury provided you haven't had a toxic dose and overwhelmed your organs.

Thank you

**garethhe** · 12-14-2005, 01:52 PM

just another reason why diversity is a virtue in any diet

**njc** · 12-14-2005, 06:55 PM

thats a serious blow to me

What is comprable in price

**Thermal2** · 12-14-2005, 07:04 PM

looks like the fisheries and or fishermen have pissed off the wrong people!! i can see tuna sales and fish sales wayyyyy down for next year!!! Looks like I will have to catch all my own fish next summer!! Great article man!! thanks.

**garethhe** · 12-14-2005, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by njc

What is comprable in price

i've found canned salmon to be comparable in price. it's arguable whether salmon is significantly safer than tuna...but it sounds like it could hardly be worse.

**Jodi** · 12-14-2005, 07:36 PM

Eggs, cottage chese, canned chicken.........

**TrojanMan60563** · 12-14-2005, 08:39 PM

[QUOTE=Jodi]Eggs, cottage chese, canned chicken.........[/QUOTE

I would do fresh chicken if I had the money to spend. I do frozen chicken. The canned would be great for that guy above in school.

My main sources of protein are Chicken, Eggs, Milk, Beef, Cottage Cheese, and sliced turkey. I have kept all fish/seafood out of my diet. I try to keep red meat out as well, but its my favorite.

**Lifting4life** · 12-14-2005, 09:00 PM

WHAT THE FUDGE!!!!!!!!!!! so after all this time tuna has been part of my diet (and most of you guys) were gonna have to cut back on it? i havent gone to that site yet but damm do they show some results on people that havef consumed tuna since young? I mean i never heard of someone having some serious problems from takin tuna.

**garethhe** · 12-14-2005, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by Lifting4life

WHAT THE FUDGE!!!!!!!!!!! so after all this time tuna has been part of my diet (and most of you guys) were gonna have to cut back on it? i havent gone to that site yet but damm do they show some results on people that havef consumed tuna since young? I mean i never heard of someone having some serious problems from takin tuna.

we're talking about prolonged low-level dosages of mercury. we're not talking about chernobyl.

**PreMier** · 12-14-2005, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Jodi

I eat the light tuna for this very reason.

Catfood!

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