Letters to the Editor
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‘Sushi Diners Get Mercury With Their Maki, Group Says’
As a nutritionist, I work to educate people on the many health benefits fish provide as part of a balanced diet [New York, “Sushi Diners Get Mercury With Their Maki, Group Says,” August 29,2007].
Currently only 20% of the general population and 18% of pregnant moms are eating two weekly servings of fish as recommended by the American Heart Association, American Dietetic Association, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines.
Eating fish twice a week, including tuna, contributes to health throughout life — from improved brain development in babies to a nearly 40% reduced risk of dying of a heart attack in adults.
Part of the reason people are not eating enough seafood, and, in turn, not getting the health benefits, is unproven health allegations about mercury.
The latest report from the Turtle Island Restoration Network, “Toxic Tuna: An Undercover Investigation of Mercury-Laden Tuna in New York City’s Premier Sushi Restaurants,” flies in the face of serious and legitimate peer-reviewed research conducted by scientists, medical authorities, health organizations, and key government agencies — all of which stand by the importance and safety of seafood in the diet.
Self-appointed advocacy groups, like the Turtle Island Restoration Network, irresponsibly use bad nutrition advice as a tool to achieve environmental objectives.
Not eating fish is the real health risk for everyone — including pregnant women and young children.
While there is not one documented case of mercury illness related to eating fish, including sushi, in the U.S., heart disease kills over 650,000 people per year.
For reliable dietary information, Americans should consult known and established scientific sources including their doctors, health care providers, and public health experts like the AHA, ADA, and USDA.
JENNIFER WILMES
McLean, Va.
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