Canned Tuna Still Widely Endorsed

Canned Tuna Still Widely Endorsed

WASHINGTON--The Food and Drug Administration(FDA), the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association(AMA) all agree that canned tuna is a safe and healthy food choice for consumersas part of a balanced diet. The nutrients in fish, notably fish oil and itsomega-3 fatty acids, are beneficial in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.However, some groups--including the California Medical Association (CMA) and theMercury Policy Project--have called for warning labels on canned tuna that willrefer to mercury content in the fish. Most fish do contain some methylmercury,but the trace amounts found in canned tuna are well within U.S. governmentsafety levels. Further undermining CMA and the Mercury Policy Project,AMA--CMA's parent organization--passed a national resolution in 2002 thatadopted FDA's recommendation for fish consumption by young children and women ofreproductive age.