Mercury in canned tuna, what is the situation

There is no peace for canned tuna: after the alarm about Bisphenol A contained in tuna cans, in recent days the French NGOs Bloom And Foodwatch have highlighted the risks for tuna consumers compared to mercury levelsa metal that is highly harmful to health.

The NGO’s analysis: how much mercury is there in tuna?

Specifically, the French NGOs took 148 cans of tuna at random from England, Germany, Italy, France and Spain and had them analyzed. Result: 100% of the samples are contaminated with mercury and over half of the cans tested, approximately one in two (57%) exceeds 0.3 mg/kgi.e. the maximum limit of mercury per kilo that is applied for all fish species. Except for the tuna.

In fact, according to the EU Regulation 915/2023 the limit not to be exceeded for this species is 1 mg of mercury per kg, however calculated on fresh tuna. According to Bloom’s calculations, the 1 mg limit on fresh tuna turns into about 2.7 mg/kg when the product is dehydrated and the mercury is more concentrated. «The way health standards have been set at European level is absolutely scandalous.” comment Julie Gutermanresearcher at the NGO Bloom, «They are established based on the level of contamination found in tuna and not based on the danger that mercury poses to human health».

The response of the Associations

THE’Ancit, the National Association of Fish and Tuna Cannersafter the alarm of recent days, wanted to reassure consumers: «Canned tuna on the Italian market complies with European Union legislation on food safety and the possible presence of mercury meets the legal requirements imposed by the European Union». There are many checks on tuna cans, and they are careful. Even the Ssica, Experimental Station for the Food Preservation Industry of Parmaconfirmed that the mercury values ​​in tuna cans are always verified: «From 2019 to 2023 we conducted sampling campaigns referring to the mercury (Hg) limits set in EC Regulation 1881/2006, replaced in the meantime by EU Regulation 915/ 2023 (1 mg/kg) and which involved numerous samples of canned tuna taken in common large-scale retail outlets. None of these samples exceeded the regulatory limit and the average value found was less than 0.2 mg/kgtherefore less than a fifth of the maximum tolerable value”.

How much fish should we eat?

A recent study of theEsfathe European Union body that assesses health risks in the agri-food supply chain – confirms that fish is the main source of human exposure to mercury and the more dangerous methylmercury, and in particular large predators such as tuna and swordfish are. On the other hand, the benefits of fish in the diet are equally tested, and while awaiting other studies – in particular on the categories most at risk, children and women of childbearing age – Esfa’s opinion suggests balancing the benefits and risks of fish intake consuming a wide variety of species and following the guidelines of the individual countries, which recommend consuming fish at least twice a week.