Foodsday Tuesday: Something Fishy

About a month ago, Phillyist was reading People Magazine while on the train to New York. Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay was interviewed about her pregnancy and said two things she looked forward to about not being pregnant were the ability to take hot baths and eat sushi (probably not simultaneously). Now, we didn't know about the bath thing, but we looked it up and discovered that water over ninety-eight degrees is unfavorable to the pregnancy. But the fish thing: well, we'd heard a lot about this over the years and decided that as responsible food bloggers, we'd get you the facts.

The problem with fish is that it sometimes has high levels of mercury and methylmercury, which can be dangerous to babies while in utero. According to Sushi Link's "sushi and pregnancy" page:

In the 1950s, women in Minimata, Japan, exposed to high levels [of mercury] in fish gave birth to children with grievous birth defects. Since then, it has become clear that even low levels of mercury exposure in women can cause neurological problems in their children, affecting language, hearing, and movement. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 8 percent of American women of childbearing age have blood mercury levels that could endanger their children. As a result, over 60,000 children are born each year at risk of lifelong problems, according to the National Academy of Sciences.

Good news, though! When eaten in moderation (twelve ounces or so per week during pregnancy), fish is allowed in your diet, and might even be beneficial for you. The EPA warns, however, that certain types of fish have significantly higher mercury levels than others. Big fish that tend to live longer (shark, swordfish, mackerel, and tilefish, for instance) have significantly higher mercury levels than other fish (1.45 parts per million in sharks versus 0.17 in canned tuna). However, everyone seems to agree that even the higher-mercury fish are okay once in a while -- but if you make a meal of shark or swordfish, you should keep away from all other fish for at least a week. The EPA and the FDA differ on what a "high" level of mercury is: the EPA conservatively suggests that you keep under 0.2 parts per million, while the FDA says that one part per million is acceptable. Phillyist suggests you be cautious and talk to your doctor about what s/he feels is too much.

On top of all that, it's good to know that cooked fish is safer to eat than raw fish in general, but especially if you're pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant. Poorly-handled raw or poorly cooked fish can hide multiple microorganisms that can cause health complications, some of which can result in a miscarriage. So if you do find yourself craving sushi, try something with shrimp, eel, or crabstick, and keep the tuna and yellowtail to a minimum -- or, play it really safe, and order vegetarian sushi like kappa maki or avocado rolls.

Image Credit: Pete Carpenter