Eating Large Fish Can Poison Young Children

[mrmoshe]

Eating large fish can poison young children

PARENTS have been warned against feeding large fish species such as swordfish, marlin and shark to young children because of the danger of mercury poisoning.

High levels of mercury - linked to developmental delay and brain problems - have been found in three children in Sydney.

Health officials said yesterday the children, aged 15 months to two years, had eaten fives times the recommended amount of fish.

In all three cases, details of which were published in the Medical Journal of Australia, they were fed congee - a rice and fish porridge used in Asian communities as a weaning food.

Health experts yesterday said that "small children should eat small fish".

NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher said too much of certain types of fish could be "detrimental to children's health".

"Incorporating two to three serves of fish per week into kids' diets is a good thing, but some parents may be overdoing it with certain species known to be high in mercury," she said.

Study co-author Stephen Corbett, of the Sydney South West Area Health Service, said children should still have fish in their diets.

"Including fish in an infant's diet has many health benefits including building a strong heart and nervous system," Dr Corbett said. "But some fish may also contain mercury which is not good for young, developing children.

"It is important to be aware how children can enjoy the many important benefits of seafood while reducing exposure to mercury."

Acting Minister for Primary Industries Linda Burney said: "An easy rule ... is that when whole the fish should be the size of an average plate."

Chief Scientist with the NSW Food Authority Lisa Szabo said most fish were low in mercury but longer-living predatory fish built up mercury levels.

"These fish such as shark or flake, swordfish, marlin and broadbill should not be included in the diet of small children," Dr Szabo said.

"If they are eaten they should be limited to one serve per fortnight with no other fish eaten that fortnight.

"Examples of low mercury fish commonly available are rainbow trout, ocean trout, flathead, kingfish and whiting - canned tuna and salmon are also good low mercury options."

Processed fish products such as fish fingers, patties, cakes, balls and bakes are made from a variety of fish including species low in mercury such as hoki and hake.