Seafood Industry Welcomes Food Authority Support

Media Release
24/1/01

SEAFOOD INDUSTRY WELCOMES FOOD AUTHORITY SUPPORT FOR FISH AS A DIETARY STAPLE

The New Zealand Seafood Industry has welcomed the advice the Australian New Zealand Food Authority ANZFA has given to the general public about the consumption of fish.

There have been recent reports warning pregnant women to limit the intake of certain species because they have high mercury levels.

The fish include shark, ray, swordfish, gemfish, orange roughy, ling, southern bluefin tuna and freshwater species near geothermal areas.

ANZFA has recommended that people should still eat fish but pregnant women limit their intake of fish to four 150 grams portions of the fish with higher mercury levels, a week.

New Zealand Seafood Industry Council General Manager Trade and Policy Alastair Macfarlane said that recent surveys indicated that New Zealanders ate less than one 150 gram portion of fish a week.

“The average piece of fish in a fish meal is 80 grams so based on ANZFA recommendations New Zealanders could up their intake of fish to eight fish portions a week and suffer no ill effects at all.”

“ Fish is a great source of protein, so it is vitally important people include fish in their weekly diet,” Mr Macfarlane said.

See also...
http://www.foxnews.com/science/junkscience/index.sml

For more information contact Tina Nixon SeaFIC Communications Manager,
025 223 2789.

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