Fish a threat to growing brains

Pregnant women were yesterday urged to limit their consumption of fish because of fears that high mercury levels could harm the development of babies' brains.

The Australia New Zealand Food Authority's advice relates to shark (flake), ray, swordfish, barramundi, gemfish, orange roughy, ling, southern bluefin tuna and freshwater species in New Zealand geothermal waters. It recommended a limit of four 150g servings a week.

The message also applies to women considering pregnancy, but not breastfeeding mothers, because very little mercury was found in breastmilk.

The authority said women should continue to eat other types of fish during pregnancy as it was an excellent source of protein, low in saturated fats.

The agency's advice stopped short of a US Food and Drug Administration's recommendation that four types of fish should not be eaten by pregnant women because of mercury levels.

This week's FDA alert, concerning shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish, was also directed at nursing mothers and young children.