Mercury Levels in Sushi
Most women who are pregnant or wishing to become pregnant have heard
the warnings about eating sushi due to the risk of certain bacteria
and increased exposure to mercury. But women also need to remember
that not all sushi is uncooked, and most fish contain essential nutrients
and vitamins needed for growth and development of their baby. Eating
fish that is cooked can help reduce the risk of exposure to certain
bacteria. Eating fish that is not on the "high" mercury list
is also a way to eat fish safely. There are 4 types of fish that pregnant
women should avoid.
The NRDC has compiled a list of fish used in sushi and their levels
of mercury. Many of the main sushi type fish contain high levels of
mercury and should be completely avoided. If you have further questions
regarding sushi, you should talk with your health care provider to
get their recommendation.
Highest mercury
AVOID
Kajiki (swordfish)
Saba (mackerel)
Shark
Tilefish
High Mercury
Eat no more than three 6-oz servings a month
Ahi (yellowfin tuna)
Buri (adult yellowtail)
Hamachi (young yellowtail)
Inada (very young yellowtail)
Kanpachi (very young yellowtail)
Katsuo (bonito)
Maguro (bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)
Makjiki (blue marlin)
Masu (trout)
Meji (young bigeye, bluefin* or yellowfin tuna)
Shiro (albacore tuna)
Toro (bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)
LOWER MERCURY
Eat no more than six 6-oz servings per month
Kani (crab)
Seigo (young sea bass)*
Suzuki (sea bass)*
LOWEST MERCURY
Enjoy two 6-oz servings a week
Aji (horse mackerel)
Akagai (ark shell)
Anago (conger eel)
Aoyagi (round clam)
Awabi (abalone)
Ayu (sweetfish)
Ebi (shrimp)
Hamaguri (clam)
Hamo (pike conger; sea eel)
Hatahata (sandfish)
Himo (ark shell)
Hokkigai (surf clam)
Hotategai (scallop)
Ika (squid)
Ikura (salmon roe)
Kaibashira (shellfish)
Kaiware (daikon-radish sprouts)
Karei (flatfish)
Kohada (gizzard shad)
Masago (smelt egg)
Mirugai (surf clam)
Nori-tama (egg)
Sake (salmon)
Sawara (spanish mackerel)
Sayori (halfbeak)
Shako (mantis shrimp)
Tai (sea bream)
Tairagai (razor-shell clam)
Tako (octopus)
Tamago (egg) Tobikko (flying fish egg)
Torigai (cockle)
Tsubugai (shellfish)
Unagi (freshwater eel)
Uni (sea urchin roe)
Chart obtained from the Natural Resource Defense
Council (NRDC); data obtained by the FDA and the EPA.
