Group warns of imported tuna

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, July 11, 2006

WASHINGTON – Many imports of canned tuna have mercury levels higher than the federal limit, according to analysis by an environmental group.

Defenders of Wildlife found the highest levels of mercury in tuna from Ecuador and Mexico – countries known for setting nets where they see dolphins to catch large tuna swimming below.

“They tend to catch larger, more mature fish, which tend to have higher levels, being at the top of the food chain,” said Bob Irvin, the group’s senior vice president for conservation.

The group is a longtime advocate of dolphin-safe tuna.

The group had a laboratory test 164 cans of tuna labeled as being from Ecuador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and the United States. Tests were done by New Age/Landmark laboratory, a Benton Harbor, Mich., company that has been used by the federal government.

Analysis of the samples found:

* Average mercury content of U.S. tuna was generally lower than imported tuna.

* Tuna from Asia had the lowest average levels of mercury.

* Tuna from Latin America had the highest mercury levels, with some exceeding the government limit of 1.0 parts per million.

The lab found higher levels of mercury even in light tuna, which the Food and Drug Administration considers to be low in mercury.

FDA says it’s safe to eat two meals a week – a total of 12 ounces – of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury, such as canned light tuna, shrimp, salmon, pollock and catfish.

But the agency says to limit albacore, or “white,” tuna to one meal per week, 6 ounces, because it contains higher levels of mercury.