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Methodology Behind Recommendations:
Seafood Safe relies on EPA's national guidance for the development and use of risk-based consumption limits for both mercury and PCBs. This approach is designed to protect children and women of childbearing age, and therefore Seafood Safe consumption advice generally errs on the side of safety for men and older women. For PCBs, Seafood Safe uses EPA’s cancer risk values, which represent a risk level of 1 in 100,000. Unlike the FDA's maximum levels for mercury and PCBs, the EPA risk-assessment approach is based solely on protecting human health and stems from more recent and rigorously reviewed science.
The red number on each Seafood Safe label represents the number of four-ounce (1/4 pound) portions that are safe for women of childbearing age (18-45) to eat each month, based on an average body weight of 141 pounds (64 kg) and the reported contaminant concentration for each type of seafood. A four-ounce portion size was chosen because it reflects the advice given in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines (recently released by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services). A conversion is made to the recommended number of meals per month to 8 oz. below the red number, for those who consume more than 4 oz.
Women of childbearing age were chosen as the primary audience. They are the most pertinent subpopulation when it comes to the health effects of seafood contaminants because direct consumption of contaminated seafood can harm a woman’s unborn fetus or nursing baby. Children are especially susceptible to the effects of seafood contaminants, and consumption should be adjusted accordingly depending on different body weights and/or average portion sizes. Please see recommended consumption levels by age and body weight for more information.
Since mercury and PCBs have different health risks, Seafood Safe uses the contaminant concentration that corresponds to the more conservative consumption advice.
It is important to consider these facts when determining your consumption levels:
Many people often eat more than 4oz. of fish at one time.
Children are especially susceptible to the effects of seafood contaminants.
Seafood Safe’s recommendation on the label is for women of childbearing age. Recommended meal advice should be adjusted accordingly depending on age, sex, different body weights and/or average portion sizes.
Seafood Safe’s recommendations are for healthy people. People with elevated levels of mercury and/or PCB’s should consult with their doctor before utilizing Seafood Safe’s consumption recommendations.
Seafood Safe strongly recommends that consumers keep track of their cumulative consumption, especially if consuming more than one species.
Businesses interested in participating in testing and labeling should send inquiries to Information@SeafoodSafe.com
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