In most of food products, the concentration of mercury (a heavy metal which is toxic for humans) is irrelevant; however, the same cannot be said for fish, which is the main source of intake, especially if it is a species caught in the open sea.

The danger of mercury and its impact on human beings depends on several subjective physiological factors, but in general the most vulnerable categories are children and pregnant women. For this reason, last year, the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) published a recommendation to avoid or limit the consumption of some fish products.

According to the publication, species with high mercury content are: swordfish, bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), shark (some species) and pike.

AESAN recommends pregnant women and children up to 10 years not to consume these species. As for children between 10 and 14 years, the recommended consumption is up to 120 grams per month.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, AESAN states that the consumption of fish is safe and healthy and a consumption of 3-4 portions per week of all fish species is recommended to the general population, also by eating both white and blue fish.

Fonte: AESAN (Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición)