Debunking the Mercury Myth: Time for a Positive Global Shift on Seafood Consumption

The Seafood Consumers Association (SCA) today calls on governments, health authorities, and the media worldwide to urgently update and modernize their guidance on seafood consumption. It is time to put the persistent mercury myth to rest and embrace the overwhelming scientific evidence: seafood is not only safe, but essential for optimal health.

Outdated Fears, Modern Evidence

For more than two decades, public concern about mercury—specifically methylmercury—in seafood has shaped dietary advice and consumer habits. These fears originated from early precautionary guidelines issued in 2000, when comprehensive research was not yet available. Since then, a wealth of scientific studies has made it clear: the risk of mercury toxicity from eating commercially available seafood is negligible, while the health benefits of regular seafood consumption are profound and far-reaching.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated its advice twice in the past five years, emphasizing that seafood is a foundational part of a healthy diet, especially for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and young children. The FDA now recommends that these groups eat at least two servings of seafood per week to support healthy development and lifelong wellbeing.

Mercury Toxicity: A Myth Without Evidence

Despite decades of monitoring, there are no confirmed cases of methylmercury toxicity in the United States from eating commercial seafood. In contrast, the real public health crisis is the lack of seafood in the diet. According to the National Fisheries Institute, low seafood consumption is estimated to contribute to 84,000 preventable deaths each year in the U.S. alone. The risk of not eating enough seafood far outweighs any hypothetical risk from mercury exposure.

The Selenium & Aquaculture Factors: Nature’s Protection

One of the most overlooked facts in the mercury debate is the presence of selenium in seafood. Selenium is an essential nutrient that not only supports brain function but also binds to mercury, neutralizing its potential toxicity. Many commonly consumed ocean seafood species are rich in selenium, providing a natural safeguard that makes mercury in seafood a non-issue for consumers.With aquaculture now supplying over half of the world’s seafood, consumers can be confident that farmed fish and shellfish are among the safest and healthiest protein sources available. Scientific studies and routine testing confirm that mercury levels in aquaculture products are extremely low—often a fraction of those found in wild-caught fish. This makes farmed seafood a smart, worry-free choice for families, pregnant women, and children. The mercury myth simply does not apply to responsibly farmed seafood.

How Much Is Too Much? The Numbers Don’t Add Up

For the top seafood species consumed in the U.S.—including shrimp, salmon, canned tuna, tilapia, and pollock—a person would need to eat an implausibly large amount in a single week to even approach any risk from mercury. The reality is that for most people, eating seafood 2-3 times per week is not only safe but highly beneficial.

The Benefits of Eating More Seafood

Seafood is a true superfood, packed with high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential micronutrients. Regular seafood consumption is linked to:

A 17% reduction in risk of death from any health-related cause
Better brain health and reduced risk of depression
Improved heart health
Healthier pregnancies and smarter children
Improved fertility and reproductive health for men

Pregnant women who eat more than 12 ounces of seafood per week have babies with IQs nearly 8 points higher than those who eat less. Sufficient omega-3 intake during pregnancy can reduce the risk of pre-term birth by up to 66%. These are not marginal benefits; they are life-changing, population-scale improvements in health.

Time for Global Rethink

Despite the clear evidence, many countries persist with outdated warnings that discourage seafood consumption, especially among those who would benefit most. This approach is not only unsupported by science, but it is also harmful. It is time for all nations to reassess their guidelines, communicate the true benefits of seafood, and encourage their populations to enjoy seafood with confidence.

Consumer Education: Setting the Record Straight

The SCA urges health professionals, educators, and the media to help dispel lingering myths and empower consumers with accurate information. Science is clear: the benefits of eating seafood far outweigh any theoretical risks from mercury. By promoting positive, evidence-based messages, we can improve public health outcomes and support sustainable seafood industries worldwide.

A Call to Action

The Seafood Consumers Association calls on all countries to:

Update national dietary guidelines to reflect the latest science on seafood safety and health benefits
Actively promote the consumption of a variety of seafood, especially for pregnant women, children, and those at risk of chronic disease
Educate the public about the protective role of selenium in seafood and the extremely low risk of mercury toxicity
Celebrate seafood as a cornerstone of a healthy, sustainable diet

Let us move beyond outdated fears and embrace what science has proven: seafood is safe, nutritious, and essential for lifelong health.

For more information and resources, visit the Seafood Consumers Association website and the Seafood Nutrition Partnership’s “Debunking the Mercury Myth” page.

Media Contact:

SCA Media Contact: CEO, Roy Palmer +61 492825012 or seafoodsdg@outlook.com

About the Seafood Consumers Association:

The SCA is a global non-profit dedicated to promoting safe, sustainable, and equitable seafood consumption, reconnecting consumers and producers, and supporting food security and public health for all.

https://www.seafoodnutrition.org/seafood-101/debunking-the-mercury-myth/