28 Fish-Free for Life: Why Plant Omega-3s are Better for You and the Environment
Farmed fish can also contain pesticide there were no health risks yet the levels of who are not intending to have children, can
residues and dangerous levels of POPs such dioxins exceeded statutory limits. A bizarre eat up to four portions of oily fish a week
as PCBs. A study of toxins in salmon feed, statement which seems to say that a little bit before possible risks outweigh the benefits,
farmed salmon and wild salmon found that of poison is okay! they claimed.
farmed salmon had consistently higher
levels of contaminants, including PCBs. The official position – not budging The report highlighted dioxins in herring,
Other studies have confirmed this, meaning The risk of toxins in fish prompted the salmon, mackerel and, to a lesser degree,
considerable health risks for those who government to commission a report on trout and voiced concerns about other
regularly eat farmed salmon. the benefits and risks of fish consumption. pollutants such as brominated flame
The report from the Scientific Advisory retardants. The Food Standards Agency
This is a crazy situation and there is no Committee on Nutrition and the Committee insists that occasionally eating more oily fish
longer any convincing argument in favour on Toxicity of Chemicals in than they recommend will not be harmful.
of eating fish. Food, Consumer Products
and the Environment was The risks from chemicals such as dioxins
Fish oil supplements published in 2004. are not immediate but develop over time
Some people choose fish oil supplements as they accumulate in the body
in preference to eating oily fish. The news It led to and no-one knows what the
here is not good either – particularly worrying the advice long-term effects will be.
as intense marketing by producers boasts that pregnant and Surely it must be better to
of meticulous manufacturing techniques breastfeeding women avoid these hazardous chemicals
and reassurances that all toxins have been should limit their entirely? This guide’s recipe section will
removed. consumption of oily fish enable you to do just that!
to one or two 140 gram
In March 2006, the Food Standards Agency portions a week. They, Confused? You will be!
announced that supplement manufacturer along with children under 16, Official advice to eat oily fish to help the
Seven Seas Limited was withdrawing some should also avoid shark, marlin development of unborn and breastfeeding
batches of fish oil supplements because of and swordfish entirely and limit infants is contradicted by advice to limit
high levels of pollutants. Less than a month the amount of tuna they fish eating for fear of damaging both
later, Boots also withdrew fish oil capsules for eat. Men, boys and women these vulnerable groups. So just when
the same reason. In both cases they claimed past childbearing age or your intake of omega-3 really matters –
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