Surveys show pollutant levels in fish falling
Friday 17 February 2006
Two Agency surveys of fish eaten in the UK are published today. They show that levels of pollutants (dioxins and PCBs) in most fish are continuing to fall.
The findings reinforce the Agency's advice that most people should eat more fish.
The latest Food Survey Information Sheets (FSISs) report on the levels of dioxins, PCBs, and similar brominated compounds in more than 40 species of fish and shellfish. The findings were assessed at a meeting this week (14 February) of the group of independent scientific experts, the Committee on Toxicity, which advises the Agency. The committee's opinion on the new data reaffirmed the Agency's current advice on the benefits of eating fish.
Eat more fish
‘The results of these surveys are good news. We don't eat enough fish in Britain and we should be eating more. Eating fish is a good way to get protein and some essential vitamins and minerals, and oily fish, for example salmon, sardines and mackerel, also give added protection against heart disease.’
Long-standing advice continues to be that people should eat at least two portions of fish a week, and that one should be an oily fish. There is good evidence that eating oily fish can help keep our hearts healthy and reduces the risk of heart disease. On average, people in the UK eat only a third of a portion of oily fish a week. In any week, seven out of ten don't eat any oily fish at all.
The Agency has specific advice for particular groups of people, as well as those who eat a lot of fish. This has been updated following this survey to take into account the levels of pollutants found in crab and five species of white fish.
Andrew Wadge, FSA Director of Food Safety, said: 'The results of these surveys are good news. We don't eat enough fish in Britain and we should be eating more. Eating fish is a good way to get protein and some essential vitamins and minerals, and oily fish – for example, salmon, sardines and mackerel – also give added protection against heart disease.
'The survey has shown that some people who eat a lot of fish may need to think about eating a wider variety of fish and we are updating our advice to reflect this. There is also specific advice for pregnant and breastfeeding women and other groups – but everyone should be aiming to eat at least two portions a week, including one of oily fish.'
Agency advice
Based on the results of this survey, the Agency's advice on the consumption of oily fish remains unchanged. People should eat at least two portions of fish per week, one of which should be oily. Girls and women who may have a baby one day are advised to limit their consumption of oily fish to two portions per week while everyone else is advised not to eat more than four portions of oily fish a week.
Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) are chemicals that get into our food from the environment. They have no immediate effect on our health but can cause problems if they are absorbed into our bodies at high levels for long periods.
The recent survey results have shown that some other fish and crab may also have similar levels of dioxins and PCBs to oily fish. These fish are: sea bream, turbot, halibut, dog fish or huss, and sea bass.
Anyone who regularly eats a lot of fish should consider choosing a wider variety (as part of a balanced diet) – eating less crab and these five species, and more that have lower levels of pollutants, such as red snapper, haddock, coley or hake.
See the 'Fish and shellfish' link below for all the Agency's advice on eating fish and shellfish.