Rethinking seafood choices: Prioritising health and safety

Fish should certainly appear more often in our diets due to their rich content of nutrients, such as vitamins A, E, B group, and omega-3 fatty acids, which boost the immune system and help prevent conditions like hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases. However, some species can accumulate heavy metals, such as mercury, which harms health. It's advisable to avoid these and opt for healthier fish options.

Although the potential health risks of pangasius have been highlighted for years, it continues to have a wide base of fans. Pangasius originates from Asia, with most of the fish available in the market sourced from farms in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta. This river is heavily polluted, raising concerns about the quality of pangasius meat. Moreover, pangasius farming typically occurs under intensive conditions, with a large number of fish in confined spaces. In such environments, fish are more susceptible to diseases and are often administered antibiotics, which can also have a negative impact on our health.

Tilapia, a popular and widely available fish, is often farmed around the world, including in China. Like pangasius, tilapia does not stand out for its high nutritional value - it contains little omega-3 and trace elements. Additionally, the farming methods are often concerning. Tilapia is frequently fed low-quality feed and, in some instances, waste from food production or animal faeces. Such practices can affect the quality of the meat and pose potential health risks to consumers.

If you decide to prepare tilapia for dinner, check the country of origin. It might be best to leave it in the store if it's from China or if such information is missing.

Shark meat sounds exotic and might be tempting during holiday trips. As a large predator, the shark can accumulate high levels of mercury, a heavy metal that is harmful to health. This is particularly concerning for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Mercury can cross the placenta and affect fetal development, as well as pass into breast milk and potentially harm the child. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid consuming shark meat.

Among the most popular types of fish is salmon. In this case, it's preferable to choose wild salmon over farmed. Farmed salmon can contain higher concentrations of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) than wild salmon. These harmful chemical compounds can negatively impact health, increasing the risk of developing certain cancers and causing hormonal disturbances.

The elevated levels of these substances in farmed salmon primarily result from its diet. Farmed salmon are fed on feed contaminated with dioxins and PCBs. Additionally, fish oil, where these compounds accumulate, is often used to produce feed for other fish, further increasing the risk of contamination.