When researchers at the University of Las Vegas tested mercury levels in canned tuna they were in for a surprise.
Of the 300 canned tuna samples tested, representing three top national brands:
- 55% exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s standards for mercury levels ( 0.5 parts per million, or ppm).
- 5% of the samples exceeded 1.0 ppm
The study, published in Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, recommends that regulatory agencies require the tuna industry to provide detailed information on mercury content and disclose the locations where tuna are caught.
Researchers are also pushing for more consistent consumption guidelines to reduce consumer confusion. According to the EPA, the average child can consume no more than one can of tuna every 18 days.
