# How much Tuna can an adult male eat safely

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-tuna-can-an-adult-male-eat-safely/262241>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 30, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-tuna-can-an-adult-male-eat-safely/262241 "2004-08-30T15:11:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-tuna-can-an-adult-male-eat-safely/262241/1 "2004-08-30T15:11:29Z")

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I have recently discovered that I can get the kids pack at Subway w/a cookie and milk for a very reasonable price. My choice has been the tuna sandwich, which had my mind going over previous discussions about mercury in fish.

I see that, depending on the source, expectant mothers are to limit themselves to 3-6 oz per week.

Seeing how I can’t possibly imagine getting pregnant due to my manliness, what kind of guidelines should I be looking at?

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**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-tuna-can-an-adult-male-eat-safely/262241/2 "2004-08-30T15:23:29Z")

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As far as I know, males need not worry about mercury in tuna. [Cecil writes](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040723.html) the following on the subject:

> [@](#):
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> The FDA advises that pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish entirely and limit consumption of albacore tuna (canned white tuna and tuna steaks) to 6 ounces (one meal) per week. Canned light tuna, shrimp, salmon, pollock, and catfish are said to be OK for up to 12 ounces per week. Some say even these guidelines, particularly the one for albacore, are too permissive.

Not a word about men.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-tuna-can-an-adult-male-eat-safely/262241/3 "2004-08-30T16:04:59Z")

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I wonder about cats. Any guidelines there?

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**Author:** ![igloorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@igloorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/igloorex)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-tuna-can-an-adult-male-eat-safely/262241/4 "2004-08-30T16:39:19Z")

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You should eat no more than 6-12 ounces of housecat per week.

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**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-tuna-can-an-adult-male-eat-safely/262241/5 "2004-08-30T16:47:16Z")

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[A cite from the FDA](http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/transcripts/4010t2_.DOC)

Keep in mind, the whiter the meat in albacore tuna, the higher the level of mercury. (Not that I’ll even consider eating the canned dark or light tuna - mainly due to the fact it tastes like the aforementioned cat food).