Women who follow government guidelines and eat no more than three portions of fish a week during pregnancy increase the risk of their children developing poor verbal and social skills, a new study suggests. Some experts say the results of the study mean health agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should reconsider the current advice on fish consumption for moms-to-be.

In 2004 the US Environmental Protection Agency and FDA jointly advised pregnant and nursing women against eating more than 340 g of seafood because of concerns about levels of toxic mercury in fish. Researchers recently found evidence suggesting that the mercury in fish might increase the risk of premature birth.

Some experts now believe that the 340 g limit should be revised. Government agencies “should re-examine the advisory in light of the new findings”, says neurologist Gary Myers, at the University of Rochester Medical Center, New York, US. He says women should be encouraged to eat more fish during pregnancy.

And Myers suggests the government should avoid complicated guidelines telling women to avoid only certain fish that typically contain higher levels of mercury, such as swordfish. “Sometimes people simply get confused by all the things they are told and when that happens they simply give up on eating fish.”

http://environment.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11193

[Scientist seem to have no clue of reality but constantly adopt new trends in what food and how much you should eat. Their mothers must have preferred fried chicken to fatty fish.]