Watch Video

Fish is important in a healthy diet, but some people need to avoid fish with high levels of mercury

Westchester County has renewed its campaign to have supermarkets throughout the county get the word out that pregnant and nursing women, women of child-bearing age and young children should avoid eating fish with high levels of mercury. 

“I thank those markets that are providing consumers with information about mercury in fish,” said County Executive Andy Spano. But Spano called on 31 other supermarkets that have not joined the educational effort to do so. The 31 holdouts include 25 supermarkets owned by one company: A&P. The other holdouts are CostCo Price Club (3 locations), Balducci’s, Sam’s Club and Stew Leonard’s. 

“If the A&P-owned supermarkets came on board, we would have 93 percent  participation county-wide,” said Spano. “And if CostCo joined, we would have 97 percent. We call on A&P, CostCo and the other holdouts to join our efforts to inform consumers and promote public health and safety.”

The educational effort began in 2004 when the county first asked supermarkets to distribute a  brochure titled “Mercury and Fish.”  Initially, many supermarkets were distributing the brochure. Late last year, however, the county Department of Consumer Protection found that only a few supermarkets were still doing so.

Hence, the county ratcheted up the effort and asked supermarkets to renew their commitment to this important public education campaign. The results have been good so far: follow-up inspections by the Department of Consumer Protection have shown that 62 supermarkets, including all local members of the Food Industry Alliance of New York State, are now participating either by making the Mercury and Fish brochure available to their customers or by posting an advisory sign about mercury at the seafood counter. 

“Fish plays an important role in a healthy and well-balanced diet,” said Spano. “But some fish have high amounts of mercury, which can have toxic effects and cause birth defects and neurological problems. We want the public to know that the Food and Drug Administration recommends that young children and women of child-bearing age — particularly those who are pregnant or nursing — limit their intake of fish with mercury.”

Added Patricia Brodhagen of the Food Industry Alliance, “By selecting from a variety of different species, and avoiding certain others, pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children can reap the health benefits of fish while avoiding the health risks of mercury. With all Westchester members of the Food Industry Alliance now having pledged to inform their customers about mercury in fish, public awareness will increase.”

Although all species of fish and shellfish contain trace levels of mercury, some varieties have higher levels. While too much mercury can have health impacts on everyone, higher levels may harm an unborn baby or young child’s developing nervous system.  Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration has recommended that pregnant and nursing women, women of childbearing age and young children avoid eating swordfish, shark, king mackerel, albacore tuna and tilefish (also known as golden snapper and golden bass).

Other commonly eaten fish, such as shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish are low in mercury. Women and young children who eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of these varieties will receive the benefits of eating fish while reducing their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.

Here is a list of participating supermarkets in Westchester:

• Associated
• BJ’s Club
• C-Town — 5 locations
• D’Agostino — 3 locations
• DeCicco Marketplace — 5 locations
• Food City
• Food Emporium — 4 locations (out of  7)
• Foodtown — 2 locations
• Green & White Market/Morton Williams Fresh Market
• Gristede’s — 2 locations
• Kam Sen Foods
• Key Food Marketplace
• Met Foods
• N. Caribbean Food
• Pathmark — 4 locations
• Scotts Corner Market
• Shoprite — 6 locations
• Stop N Shop — 15 locations
• Top Tomato
• Trader Joe’s — 3 locations
• Turco’s
• Western Beef
• Whole Foods Market