Tuna sold in schools has been tested to find high levels of mercury, according to reports, prompting the consumer advocacy group Mercury Policy Project to call for a ban of tuna used for school lunches.
The group tested 59 samples of tuna in institution-size cans and foil pouches from 11 states. The levels of methylmercury were in general close to previous tests done by the Food and Drug Administration; however, levels of mercury varied widely, even from the same can or pouch.
The group added that of the samples tested, only nine came from the U.S. Those caught in the U.S. had the lowest country of origin average of mercury, while tuna from Ecuador had the highest level "by far."
The Mercury Policy Project made 13 recommendations including that children should not eat albacore tuna, as it contains roughly triple the level of mercury found in light tuna. Smaller children (under 55 pounds) should eat light tuna no more than once a month, and the Department of Agriculture should phase out subsidies for tuna in the school lunch program.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com
Health News