| Vegan Health News | January 7 2008 |
Small kids should avoid eating big fish: study
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Parents are being warned to avoid feeding young children too much fish, with more than three servings a week posing a health risk to children under six.
A study was carried out at Sydney's Westmead Hospital, on three Asian families who fed their children a rice porridge dish called congee which is often used as a weaning food.
In some cases the children had mercury levels up to five times higher than normal.
Dr Stephen Corbett, from the Sydney West Area Health Service, says small children should be fed smaller species of fish, as they contain less mercury.
"We believe the practice of feeding fish to young children is a good one. It's good for their nutrition." he said.
"We wouldn't recommend that people desist from doing that.
"They can eat fish safely, if they just abide by a couple of simple rules. Two to three portions a week, and small fish for small fry."
Dr Lisa Szabo from the New South Wales Food Authority, says young children should avoid large species of fish, such as catfish, marlin and swordfish.
"As children grow older, the types of fish that they can eat can increase, and they can start to eat some of these fish that we are asking people to avoid when a child is in its infant stage," she said.
"But again, like any good diet, variety is the key."
Reference: ABC Australia Health News.
Editor's Note: If children should avoid eating large fish because of the large amount of accumulated mercury, and mercury is seen as a danger to human health, then surely children should avoid eating large and small fish. If mercury is recognized as an accumulative poison in the human body, then all levels of mercury in the diet are a danger to human health. It would also logically follow that all humans should avoid eating all fish. Another good reason to change to a vegan diet!
