Tuna is one of the most versatile proteins on the market, and a can costs as little as $1. But if you eat more than 25 to 35 cans a week, you could get mercury poisoning.
While the fish is high in Omega-3 and iodine and full of nutrients, it is also high in mercury when eaten in large amounts.
Mercury builds up inside a fish overtime, and some species such as tuna, have higher levels of it.
The protein found in tuna can be used in a lot of different ways. It is high in Omega-3, iodine, and other nutrients.
Too much consumption of the natural element can result in diseases, birth defects and even organ damage.
Based on your weight and the type of tuna, you can eat 25 to 35 small 95-gram cans a week without going over the maximum mercury limits.
ABC TV’s show Catalyst did lab tests that showed this huge amount, which even the biggest tuna fans would have a hard time eating.
Based on your weight and the type of tuna, you can eat 25 to 35 small 95-gram cans a week without going over the maximum mercury limits.
Smaller species are used to make tuna cans and are caught when they are younger, so canned tuna usually has less mercury than tuna steaks.
In Australia, the most common types of canned tuna found in stores are Skipjack, which is the smallest major tuna, and Yellowfin, which is the largest.
Parents are told to feed their kids fish because it has protein and is good for their health, but they shouldn’t give their kids more than the recommended amount.
A doctor and mom from Melbourne recently shared the tinned tuna pasta bake recipe that she always uses when she cooks for her family. I hope it helps.
Tuna is a versatile and nutritious fish that’s rich in protein, Its convenience and affordability make it a staple food item for many people But can eating too much tuna be dangerous or even fatal?
Even though tuna does have small amounts of mercury in it, very few people die directly because they ate tuna. But eating too much tuna can poison you with mercury, which can have very bad effects on your health if you don’t watch your intake.
Mercury in Tuna – The Health Risks
Mercury is a dangerous heavy metal that gets into oceans and rivers through pollution from factories. It accumulates in large fish like tuna through bioaccumulation.
When humans eat contaminated fish, mercury is absorbed into the bloodstream and can accumulate in tissues and organs. High mercury levels in the body can lead to a condition called mercury poisoning.
Symptoms of mercury poisoning include
- Impaired brain function and coordination
- Numbness and tingling sensations
- Muscle weakness
- Vision, hearing and speech problems
- Irritability and mood changes
In severe cases, kidney failure, respiratory problems, and death may occur. Fetuses are especially vulnerable, with mercury able to impair brain and nervous system development.
While tuna contains mercury, levels are generally not high enough that eating moderate amounts would lead to poisoning.
According to the FDA, eating up to 12 ounces (two average meals) of low-mercury fish like light tuna per week is considered safe. Albacore (white) tuna has more mercury, so only 6 ounces weekly is recommended.
Pregnant women and young children are advised to completely avoid high-mercury fish like swordfish and instead choose lower-mercury seafood.
Can You Really Die from Eating Too Much Tuna?
Deaths specifically attributed to tuna consumption are very rare. However, it is theoretically possible to die from eating extreme amounts of contaminated fish.
Studies show that methylmercury levels above 200 μg/L in adults can impair brain function and potentially be fatal. Levels above 40 μg/L can harm a fetus’s nervous system.
Average mercury levels in canned light tuna are around 0.2 parts per million (ppm), while albacore tuna ranges from 0.3-0.5 ppm. So you would have to eat very high, unsafe amounts of tuna to reach life-threatening mercury levels.
However, people who regularly eat fish multiple times a day could potentially reach dangerous mercury levels over time through bioaccumulation in body tissues. Those consuming fish known to be high in mercury like swordfish, shark, and king mackerel are especially at risk if intake is excessive.
There are rare cases of death attributed to eating too much contaminated fish. In one incident, a chemistry professor died from apparent mercury poisoning after eating 2-3 daily servings of contaminated fish from polluted waters over years.
So while tuna alone has not been directly linked to fatalities, overconsuming any mercury-containing fish potentially can be. Moderation is key.
Recorded Cases of Tuna-Related Mercury Poisoning
While tuna-related deaths are practically unheard of, consuming too much contaminated tuna can cause mercury poisoning. Here are some recorded cases:
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In one medical study, a 19-year-old man eating 6 cans of tuna daily for 6 months was hospitalized with severe mercury poisoning symptoms including loss of coordination and kidney problems. His mercury blood level was 1000 μg/L, 25 times above the safe limit. He recovered after stopping tuna consumption.
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A case study reported on a 47-year old male who ate a daily can of tuna for 3 years and experienced numbness, difficulty walking and concentrating. He had mercury levels of 225 μg/L. Discontinuing tuna consumption resolved his symptoms.
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A 15-year old girl developed mercury poisoning symptoms after eating tuna sandwiches and canned tuna daily for years. She showed mood and concentration issues, irritability, and vision problems. Her mercury level was 350 μg/L, significantly elevated. She recovered after ceased tuna intake.
So while fatal tuna poisoning appears non-existent in medical literature, consuming it in extreme excess can cause concerning mercury-related health effects if intake is not moderated.
Can Pregnant Women Die from Eating Too Much Tuna?
Pregnant women are especially susceptible to mercury’s harmful effects on fetal development. But tuna-related deaths are unlikely, though mercury poisoning is possible with extreme overconsumption.
According to the EPA, mercury blood levels over 15 μg/L can impair fetal brain and nervous system development. Levels above 40 μg/L increase risk for cerebral palsy and impaired cognition.
Eating more than the recommended doses of low-mercury fish is inadvisable during pregnancy. Consuming too much albacore or high-mercury fish like swordfish could theoretically raise mercury to dangerous levels.
In severe cases, this can lead to neurological disorders or even infant mortality. Still, no direct tuna-linked fatalities have been substantiated.
For optimal safety, the FDA recommends pregnant women eat no more than 6 ounces of canned light tuna per week. Albacore and high-mercury fish should be avoided. This moderated amount is considered safe and nutrients like omega-3s in tuna can aid fetal development.
Tuna Mercury Poisoning Risk Factors
While tuna deaths are extremely unlikely, certain individuals are at higher risk for mercury poisoning from overconsumption. Risk factors include:
- Eating tuna/fish daily or multiple times a day
- Choosing albacore or high-mercury fish like swordfish
- Consuming fish from polluted waters
- Living near coal-fired power plants or other mercury emitters
- Being pregnant or a small child
- Having impaired liver/kidney function
To avoid mercury toxicity, the EPA and FDA recommend:
- 2-3 servings (8-12 oz) weekly of low-mercury fish
- 1 serving (4-6 oz) weekly of albacore tuna
- Completely avoiding high-mercury fish varieties
- Consuming a variety of seafood, not just tuna
By following these common-sense tuna consumption guidelines, mercury poisoning and adverse health effects are preventable.
Can You Reverse Tuna Mercury Poisoning?
If tuna mercury poisoning occurs, stopping consumption allows the body to gradually eliminate mercury through waste removal. Chelation therapy medications can also help remove heavy metals faster.
Without continued exposure, mercury levels and associated symptoms generally resolve over weeks to months as the toxin clears. However, permanent damage is possible if mercury concentrations are extremely high.
To help reverse tuna mercury poisoning:
- Immediately cease eating tuna and all seafood
- Get blood tests to verify mercury levels
- Take chelating agents that bind to mercury if levels are severely elevated
- Adopt a diet low in mercury while the toxin clears
- Avoid alcohol which can damage detoxifying organs
- Drink plenty of water and fluids to aid toxin removal
- Check levels monthly to ensure mercury is depleting
Prompt cessation of tuna intake combined with medical treatment will allow the body to gradually clear itself of accumulated mercury before it can do permanent harm.
Is Eating Canned Tuna Safe in Moderation?
For most people, enjoying canned tuna in moderation is safe according to health authorities. Light tuna varieties contain lower mercury levels, so they can be eaten more liberally than albacore.
To eat tuna safely:
- Choose chunk light over albacore/white for lower mercury
- Eat no more than 2-3 servings of light tuna weekly
- Keep albacore intake to once weekly (4-6 oz)
- Avoid swordfish, shark, tilefish, and king mackerel
- Check local fish advisories about contamination
- Limit tuna intake during pregnancy and for children
When partitioning intake and alternating tuna with plenty of other seafood, mercury risks are negligible. Any exposure can be offset by eating selenium-rich foods like nuts and seeds which bind to mercury.
Excessive tuna consumption should be avoided, but enjoying it moderately does not pose significant health risks for most people.
While tuna is healthy and convenient, it’s always wise to be mindful of mercury content by varying your protein sources. Seek out wild-caught fish low in mercury like salmon, sardines, and sole to reap the benefits of seafood while limiting risk of toxicity.
So take a sensible approach for tuna intake based on authoritative guidelines, and let tuna safely enhance your diet rather than dominate it. Moderation and variety is key when including canned tuna in your regular meal rotation.
How do you make Dr Preeya Alexander’s tuna pasta bake?
Dr Alexander shared the recipe for the veg-packed tuna pasta bake (pictured) online
Canned tomatoes x 3
Spinach and silverbeet x 1 handful
Garlic x 3 cloves
Cans of tuna in olive oil x 3
1. Heat your water and cook the pasta according to packet instructions.
2. While the pasta water is heating up, add a good amount of crushed ginger to a pan next to it along with a splash of extra virgin olive oil. Then add some garlic.
3. Fry off both the garlic and the ginger until its slightly fragrant, and then add in your tuna. You do need to fry off the tuna quickly, but not for very long.
4. If youre using broccoli or cauliflower, blitz them in your blender. Use all parts of the cauliflower including the stalks.
5. Add in three cans of tomato to your mix and stir it through a bit. Allow it to gently simmer for five minutes and then throw in the veg.
6. Add in your mushrooms, spinach cauliflower and broccoli blended. Stir it through and add a little passata if you need it.
7. Cook for 20-30 minutes so that all the veg is softened. Add your olives and a little bit of ricotta to make it creamy and delicious. Two tablespoons is a good amount. Finally, put a few teaspoons of chilli flakes inside it.
8. Put the pasta in an oven-safe glass dish and pour the sauce over it, making sure to cover all of the pasta.
9. Add a sprinkle of cheddar cheese and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
10. Serve hot with a side salad.
How much fish should you consume?
Women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy:
One piece of Orange Roughy (Deep Sea Perch) or Catfish per week, and no other fish that week.
1 piece of Shark (Flake) or Billfish (Swordfish, Broadbill, and Marlin) every two weeks; no other fish that week.
Children, up to 6 years:
One piece of Orange Roughy (Deep Sea Perch) or Catfish per week, with no other fish that week.
One piece of shark (flake) or billfish (swordfish, broadbill, and marlin) every two weeks, but no other fish that week.
Everyone else:
1 portion per week of Shark (Flake) or Billfish (Swordfish/Broadbill and Marlin) and no other fish that week
A doctor and mom from Melbourne recently shared the tinned tuna pasta bake recipe that she always uses when she cooks for her family. I hope it helps.
Dr Preeya Alexander made the child-friendly recipe with canned tomatoes, tuna, dried pasta and extra Virgin olive oil, olives, ricotta, garlic, ginger and fresh vegetables including mushroom, cauliflower, spinach and silverbeet.
The easy recipe got a lot of attention online, and people couldn’t wait to try it and make it for their families.
This was a big hit with our picky toddler twins tonight. I made it for them and they ate it all up, along with my husband and I. Keep the recipes coming!
Can Tuna Give You Mercury Poisoning?
FAQ
Is 1 can of tuna a day safe?
Is mercury poisoning reversible?
Is mercury poisoning fatal?
How much lead is in tuna?
What happens if you eat too much tuna?
If you’re eating too much tuna, you could potentially end up with a fishy side effect called mercury poisoning.
Is tuna fish good for health?
1) Tuna is loaded with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which help in reducing cholesterol. 2) Tuna is rich in potassium which is known to reduce blood pressure. Omega 3 fatty acids in combination with potassium bring an anti inflammatory effect and promotes heart health. 3) Tuna is rich in various vitamins and minerals like manganese, zinc, vit C and selenium which help in strengthening immune system. They help in reducing free radicals and protect the body from cancers. 4) Vit B that is present in tuna helps in strengthening bones. 5) It improves skin health as it is rich in vitamin B complex.
Can you eat too much canned tuna?
Depending on how much and, especially what kind of canned tuna you’re eating, you may be getting too much, potentially resulting in a fishy side effect called mercury poisoning. But before you dis fish, read on, and check out these 6 Ways Eating Fish Can Help You Lose Weight.
Is tinned tuna bad for You?
Tinned tuna is cheap, tasty and nutritious. Shutterstock all Whether mercury is harmful or not also depends on the amount of fish you eat and how often. Shutterstock A tin of tuna is significantly cheaper than many types of fresh meat or fish. But how much can you eat before you need to worry about mercury?