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It's easy to get answers about health and nutrition! Just send your question by email to [email protected] and Dr. Harlan will respond to selected questions of general interest. Answers will be posted in the Ask Dr. Gourmet newsletter (sign up now!) and archived in the Ask Dr. Gourmet section of the website.

Please note that the Ask Dr. Gourmet feature is restricted to questions regarding food and nutrition. Due to the many questions we receive, not all questions may be answered. For more specific questions about your individual health, please contact your doctor. About Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy


 
 

Ask Dr. Gourmet

Is it safe to eat canned tuna every day?

I love tuna and it's cheap. I have been eating it most days taking a sandwich to work. Is this a problem?

Dr. Gourmet Says...

a tuna salad sandwich on toasted wheat bread

There's no doubt that tuna contains mercury and you do need to be cautious. When it comes to canned tuna, for a long time it is has been felt that eating "light" tuna is safer as reported by the FDA. It has been thought that albacore contains more mercury and that this is the higher risk of canned tuna.

Because of the uncertainty, it's probably best to limit the amount of tuna you eat - whether fresh or canned. Consumer Reports did some off the shelf research in 2006 showing that canned light tuna often had as much as 1/3 the amount of mercury as albacore.

The best rule of thumb for fish is to mix it up. Eat fish 2 - 3 times per week, but don't eat the same fish more than 2 - 3 times per month.

One important consideration is for kids, who should really limit tuna and other fish that are high in mercury to no more than a couple of times per month. The same holds true for women who are pregnant or who are trying to get pregnant.

Here's a link to more info: Dr. Tim Says : One fish, Two fish, Mercury in Your Fish.

Thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet