Together with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the FDA recently issuedĪdvice on choosing the healthiest fish to eat. That's where water pollution a fish was exposed to would collect. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) also recommends removing the skin, fat and internal organs before cooking and eating what you catch. If the body of water in your area isn't monitored, limit how much of the fish you eat to one serving per week.

If your family likes to go fishing and cook what you catch, check local advisories first. For information about the safety of fish and shellfish caught in your area, contact your state and local health departments. However, they can still be found in the water and soil in some areas and levels may vary by location and type of fish. The good news is that other water pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins have decreased in recent years, making them less of a threat to people's health. Eating too much of these contaminated fish can have harmful effects on a child's developing nervous system. Methylmercury can build up in fish-especially ones that eat other fish and live longer, such as shark and swordfish. When it settles into water, bacteria changes the mercury into a more dangerous form, methylmercury. This naturally occurring metal is released into the air by burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), solid waste, and by some factories. Some lakes, rivers, oceans, and other bodies of water can be contaminated with Why are some fish better choices than others?

To avoid missing out on these nutritional perks, children should eat small servings of a variety of fish and shellfish 1 to 2 times per week. There’s also some research suggesting that consuming fish early in life may help prevent allergic diseases such as asthma and eczema. In addition to high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals, fish is a great source of healthy fats such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that are essential for a child's developing brain, nervous system and vision. One fish, two fish: How much fish should kids eat? But there are a few types of fish children should skip, or eat in limited amounts, to avoid exposure to high levels of mercury. Most seafood (fish and shellfish like crab, scallops, oysters, and mussels) that's eaten in the United States provides a tasty, safe and healthy mealtime option. Adding fish to your child's diet is an excellent way to reel in a prize catch of important nutrients.

Clawfish safe to eat