Mercury in canned tuna: the brands with the most

Canned tuna is one of the most sought-after and consumed products in Europe. Based on this premise, the French NGO Bloom An independent laboratory examined 148 cans of tuna from five European countries (France, Germany, Spain, England, and Italy), including some well-known and popular brands. The most important conclusions are these:

• All packages, without exception, are found to be contaminated by mercury.
• Over 50 percent of the tested cans exceeds the maximum limits permitted for other fish species.
• Five packs of canned tuna, Among the best-selling in Italy, they contain quantities of mercury even higher than the maximum concentration permitted by law, i.e. 1 mg/kg which corresponds to 2,7 mg/kg in canned products.
• The Petit Navire brand, purchased in a Carrefour City in Paris, It has a record content of 3,9 mg/kg, that is, 13 times higher than 0,3 mg/kg.

This table, which summarizes data on the presence of mercury in the most popular canned tuna in Italy, shows that some brands (Rio Mare, Re di Tonno, Dozela, and Carrefour) have significantly higher levels of mercury than the legal limit. This law is very generous to canned tuna producers, as the permitted mercury limits are significantly higher than those for other fish, such as cod. This difference has no scientific justification and is based solely on the lobbying efforts of the tuna industry.

In light of the outcry caused in France by the text of Bloom French tuna producers have attempted to defend themselves with a massive marketing and advertising campaign to uphold the authenticity of their products. The chosen argument is clear.: Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the environment, released primarily from the Earth's crust into the air, then dispersed into soil and water. Human activities contribute to increasing its concentration, particularly in aquatic environments. It is therefore normal to find very small amounts in all fish, particularly in predators at the end of the food chain, such as tuna. This self-defense does not detract from two considerations. First, mercury remains a neurotoxic substance, and for this reason, limits have been established for its presence in foods. Second, the "normality" claimed by French producers translates into quantities of mercury permitted by a very generous law for the industry, and these levels should not be exceeded.

Finally, which tuna species have the most mercury, an amount that often depends on the fish's longevity?

• Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus): This species is one of the largest and longest-lived. Adult bluefin tuna accumulate high levels of mercury due to their position at the top of the food chain and their long lifespan (a bluefin tuna can live up to 40 years).
• Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares): Although smaller in size than bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna is still a species that accumulates significant amounts of mercury, especially the larger and older tuna.
• Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus): This tuna species is another example of tuna that can accumulate high levels of mercury, especially the larger fish.

Read also:

• Canned Tuna: Pros and Cons
• Tuna with mercury: one in two cans exceeds the maximum limit
• Tuna in oil: a tasty and easy-to-prepare recipe.