FDA: Pregnant women, mothers should eat more fish
June 10, 2014 | 05:57 PM
The Food and Drug Administration today issued draft guidance that pregnant women and mothers should eat more fish.
“We’re updating our advice because the latest science strongly indicates that eating eight to 12 ounces per week of a variety of fish lower in mercury during pregnancy benefits fetal growth and development,” says FDA Acting Chief Scientist Stephen Ostroff, said in a consumer advice update.
Ostroff adds that the new recommended amount is an “excellent range” to maximize the developmental benefits that fish can provide.
“The science behind that recommendation was not available when we last issued fish consumption advice in 2004,” he noted.
The 2004 advice recommends eating up to 12 ounces of fish lower in mercury per week but doesn’t recommend a minimum amount to eat.
The new draft advice does, recommending that women who might become pregnant along with pregnant and breastfeeding women eat at least eight ounces and up to 12 ounces weekly, which is two to three servings.
This draft advice also extends to young children, although the amounts served to them should be proportionally smaller, FDA said.
“FDA is working to translate years of important nutrition science into updated advice, and that’s exciting,” said Jennifer McGuire of the National Fisheries Institute.
But she added that the release of the draft advice only begins the process of turning peer-reviewed science into language that expectant mothers can understand.
“Expectant moms and health professionals alike have been confused about seafood advice during pregnancy and FDA has begun the process of setting the record straight that fish should be a pregnancy staple,” McGuire said.
▪ Food and Drug Administration — New Advice: Most Women and Children Should Eat More Fish
▪ Draft Advice from FDA and EPA — Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know
▪ — Summary
“We’re updating our advice because the latest science strongly indicates that eating eight to 12 ounces per week of a variety of fish lower in mercury during pregnancy benefits fetal growth and development,” says FDA Acting Chief Scientist Stephen Ostroff, said in a consumer advice update.
Ostroff adds that the new recommended amount is an “excellent range” to maximize the developmental benefits that fish can provide.
“The science behind that recommendation was not available when we last issued fish consumption advice in 2004,” he noted.
The 2004 advice recommends eating up to 12 ounces of fish lower in mercury per week but doesn’t recommend a minimum amount to eat.
The new draft advice does, recommending that women who might become pregnant along with pregnant and breastfeeding women eat at least eight ounces and up to 12 ounces weekly, which is two to three servings.
This draft advice also extends to young children, although the amounts served to them should be proportionally smaller, FDA said.
“FDA is working to translate years of important nutrition science into updated advice, and that’s exciting,” said Jennifer McGuire of the National Fisheries Institute.
But she added that the release of the draft advice only begins the process of turning peer-reviewed science into language that expectant mothers can understand.
“Expectant moms and health professionals alike have been confused about seafood advice during pregnancy and FDA has begun the process of setting the record straight that fish should be a pregnancy staple,” McGuire said.
▪ Food and Drug Administration — New Advice: Most Women and Children Should Eat More Fish
▪ Draft Advice from FDA and EPA — Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know
▪ — Summary
