Consuming Fish Safely

Toxins can be found naturally in the environment or as a result of industrial pollution. Fish consumption can be a major source of human exposure to toxins like mercury. However, eating fish is an important part of a healthy diet. Rich in vitamins and low in fat, fish contains protein we need for strong bodies. It is also an excellent source of nutrition for proper growth and development. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends that you eat two meals of fish or seafood every week. Accurate information about the types and the amount of fish to consume is necessary for Floridians to know how to safely include fish in their diets.

The Florida Environmental Public Health Tracking Program now offers information about important fish consumption choices for women of childbearing age and children with the Fish for Your Health Wallet Card. The card encourages the health benefits of eating specific types of fish while avoiding unsafe amounts of mercury. The wallet card lists:

• Species of common fish available commercially
• The level of mercury for the species listed
• Advice on how much of each fish to eat weekly

The cards are available for Florida County Health Departments, upon request. If your CHD is interested in obtaining wallet cards, please contact us

Learn more at:

Dept. of Health Fish Consumption Advisory

Martin County Health Department

Escambia County Health Department

Duval County Health Department

If your Florida County is working on a project to help people consume fish safely, please send us your web link and we will add it to this page. Thank you!

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