Though some species of fish around the world's are likely to be contaminated with mercury, PCBs and other toxins, the benefits of eating seafood continue to outweigh the risks, a panel of scientists recently reported at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
"The best science coming out over the last two years has overwhelmingly been in favor of the benefits of seafood consumption," says Michael T. Morrissey, director of Oregon State University's seafood laboratory, and moderator of the panel.
During the AAAS panel, for example, Phil Davidson from the University of Rochester Medical School, presented results of a unique 10-year study of more than 700 children living in the Seychelles Islands. The children's mothers averaged 12 meals of fish a week—about 10 times the average fish consumption of individuals in the United States—and those fish contained high levels of methylmercury.
Yet cognitive tests on the children, taken multiple times over the years, found no cognitive defects or other maladies normally attributed to mercury absorption.
"Those results are fascinating," Morrissey reports. "Is there something beneficial in consuming the fish that negates any adverse effects of the mercury? The science isn't quite there yet. But it underscores the importance of looking at the issues holistically instead of formulating conclusions based on scattered evidence."
There are some seafood products where caution is warranted, Morrissey points out. Guidelines for young children and pregnant women should be followed, he advises.
"If you're in that group, avoid eating shark, swordfish, tilefish and Spanish mackerel," Morrissey explains. "But young children and pregnant women should still eat 12 ounces a week of a variety of fish to be sure to get the important nutrients—especially omega-3 fatty acids.
"For the rest of us," he adds, "I would recommend eating fish 4-7 times a week. The evidence still suggests that seafood plays a role in reducing coronary heart disease—and new studies suggest that it may reduce the onset of Alzheimer's as well as other mental illnesses."
(3 October 2008) Martek Biosciences Corporation says its life'sDHA is featured in the new Live Bright Brain Health Bar, the latest offering from Kellogg. Each bar contains 100 mg of life'sDHA and w...
(1 October 2008) Givaudan Flavours is launching its new ByNature program for the European market with a series of natural culinary profiles for meat flavours. The Givaudan ByNature culinary meat ra...
(1 October 2008) Royal DSM N.V. has inaugurated its new polymer plant in Jiangyin (Jiangsu province, China). The plant produces high viscosity grades of Akulon polyamide 6 (PA6) aimed at the fast ...
(1 October 2008) McNeil Nutritionals has launched Splenda No Calorie Sweetener with Fiber, a no-calorie sweetener for foods and beverages with one gram of fiber in each packet. The product answers ...
(1 October 2008) ‘Super grains’ might take flight, albeit gradually, in the region. White bread remains largely popular in the market, although unpolished rice is a staple food in some Asian regio...
(1 October 2008) Martek Biosciences Corp says revenues for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2008 were $88.4 million, up 14% from $77.8 million in the same period last year. Net income was $9.3...
(1 October 2008) GLG Life Tech and Weider Global Nutrition (WGN) say they have signed a definitive agreement to set up a venture, GLG Weider Sweet Naturals, to sell dietary and tabletop supplement...
(1 October 2008) A recent clinical study shows NAT’Life’s Powergrape is a natural ingredient that promotes efficacy in physical performance and cell oxygenation in humans. Powergrape maximizes phy...
While Tesco had previously resisted offering mortgages on the grounds that the margins were so tight that they were unprofitable, finance director Andrew Higginson said that the credit crunch seems to have created an opportunity. Tesco may begin offering home mortgages to compete with the major lenders.
In response to consumer research and the global trend for convenience, South Africa's Pick n Pay has opened its first small format convenience store in Fairland, Johannesburg.
Marks & Spencer has opened its first store in mainland China with hopes that it might lift flagging results. As the flagship store opened on West Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s premier shopping street, the UK retailer reported its worst performance for three years with like-for-like UK sales down by over six per cent over the last three months.
Sorin Minea, chairman of the Romanian Federation of Food Industry Business Owners (Romalimenta) says the food industry is currently overdeveloped in Romania and explains that the weight of current expenses...
US grocers including Whole Foods Market, Kroger and Stop & Shop have had to hire third party verifiers to root out produce that contains pesticide residue despite organic seals. Some supposedly organic producers are certifying conventionally-grown produce in order to increase the price.
Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, has shown it operates best in tough markets, racking up a 10.3 per cent increase in profit of €1,824 billion for the first six months of 2008 to 23 August. Total sales rose 13.8 per cent to €32.1 billion.
