# Too much tunafish dangerous? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 29, 2002, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703 "2002-03-29T04:22:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e56c9b/32.png) [@Rye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rye)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/1 "2002-03-29T04:22:45Z")
I eat about 1 can every day or other day, I LOVE tunafish. However my friend told me that you should only have 1 can per week because of “mercury poisoning”. Is this true and am I truely at risk by eating the delicious tunafish? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/2 "2002-03-29T04:40:41Z")
[http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/protection/warnings/2001/2001\_60e.htm](http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/protection/warnings/2001/2001_60e.htm) > [@](#): > > Health Canada advises Canadians to limit consumption of shark, swordfish and **fresh and frozen tuna,** to one meal per week. Pregnant women, women of child-bearing age and young children should eat no more than one meal per month. > > Certain fish species sold in Canada, namely, shark, swordfish, and **fresh and frozen tuna,** contain mercury at levels which are known to exceed the 0.5 ppm guideline. Based on current data available, average mercury levels in these species are at or near 1.0 ppm (the current guideline for methyl mercury in the United States) with a typical range of 0.5 - 1.5 ppm. Application of the 0.5 ppm mercury guideline to these species would virtually eliminate these types of fish from the Canadian diet. > > **It is important to note that such advice does not apply to canned tuna. Mercury levels in canned tuna are typically well below the 0.5 ppm guideline.** OTOH… [http://www.enn.com/enn-news-archive/2001/01/01152001/mercury\_41312.asp](http://www.enn.com/enn-news-archive/2001/01/01152001/mercury_41312.asp) > [@](#): > > Mercury warnings on the rise > > Monday, January 15, 2001 > By Margot Higgins > Tuna has been added to the list of no-no’s for children under 6 years old, pregnant women and women planning pregnancy, according to the Connecticut Board of Health. > Last week the Connecticut Board of Health recommended that pregnant women, women planning to get pregnant within a year and children under 6 years old limit their intake of **canned tuna, fresh tuna,** swordfish and shark. The fish contain enough toxic mercury that, when eaten regularly, may cause developmental and learning problems in children. [http://www.mindfully.org/Food/Tuna-Cut-Back.htm](http://www.mindfully.org/Food/Tuna-Cut-Back.htm) > [@](#): > > …state health experts say women of child-bearing age and young children should lay off tuna to avoid eating too much mercury. > > “Eating a variety of fish and shellfish as part of a balanced diet helps to reduce your chances of stroke or heart attack,” said Maxine Hayes, the state health officer. “But people need to know that some kinds of fish are very high in mercury, and this a problem.” > > The state Health Department advised yesterday that women of child-bearing age and children under 6 should not eat any tuna steaks and limit how much **canned tuna** they eat each week. So yes, there is mercury in tuna. Are you under 6, or pregnant? 😃 Me, I’d probably cut back. You should eat a varied diet anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/3 "2002-03-29T11:08:22Z")
First of all, Rye, it’s “tuna”. You don’t really have to specify the fish part. People will not think you are talking about tuna horse or tuna pork. Second of all, too much of anything is bad for you. Too much water can be bad for you. Third of all, mercury that you ingest (in tuna, for example) tends to stay in your body. If you eat your weight in tuna, then your body accumulates roughly the same mercury concentration as the tuna. If, over a few months, you eat three times your weight in tuna, that’s of course triple the concentration. If, over the years, you eat a hundred times your weight in tuna, that’s about a hundred times the mercury that the tuna have to deal with. I’m just pulling numbers out of the air here, but this is the gist of biological amplification. It’s essentially WHY too much tuna is bad for you (see above). ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/4 "2002-03-29T14:05:10Z")
> [@](#): > > First of all, Rye, it’s “tuna”. You don’t really have to specify the fish part. People will not think you are talking about tuna horse or tuna pork. Heh, I was going to say that. It’s a Canadian joke to what we see as a funny Americanism. ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/5 "2002-03-29T14:31:07Z")
The worst thing you can eat is sharkfin soup. Very high in mercury. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/6 "2002-03-29T14:40:02Z")
I’ve been on a tuna diet for about 3 months! I eat plain tuna everyday for lunch. To me, it’s the best way I know of to get that much protein with that few calories, in a convenient package for little money. Argh. The next hi protein low cost option is soy, but I know the fish nutrients beyond protein are good for me. bastards! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/7 "2002-03-29T16:28:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > \*\*I’ve been on a tuna diet for about 3 months! > \*\* Is this some sort of new thng? Some guy my husband works with is reportedly on a diet to lose weight that consists of nothing but tuna, bananas, and egg whites. Sounds revolting to me–no wonder you lose weight. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/8 "2002-03-29T17:41:36Z")
“Second of all, too much of anything is bad for you. Too much water can be bad for you.” - Max Excuse me, but this is rather backward logic. What makes something “too much” is the fact that it is, indeed, bad for you. Yes, too much of anything can be bad for you - by definition of “too much.” The question wasn’t if too much tuna is bad for you. If that were the question, then the answer would be in the question. His question was really, how much IS too much. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/9 "2002-03-29T19:43:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamex \* > \*\* > > Is this some sort of new thng? Some guy my husband works with is reportedly on a diet to lose weight that consists of nothing but tuna, bananas, and egg whites. Sounds revolting to me–no wonder you lose weight. \*\* Nope - not ‘new’ or fad per se. I eat balanced controlled portions all day. About 1800 calories for a 5’ 10" male who weighs 185, down 40 lbs from 3 months ago. Balnced: Fruits/Veggie/fat/protein/fiber/etc. Protein is difficult to come by when eating a well balanced intake of food. I try to use lunch time to focus on getting protein in my system, sans fat. Protein is available quite readily(goodnews)…usually accompanied by fat and cholestoral (bad news)… I’m crazy though, because I’ll eat broiled skinless chicken for weeks as part of getting a low fat protein source…or lots of tuna…for months. In any event, I am eating more tuna than most… … so, I’ma gonna tuna in for disa answer. …or itsa soya-burgers fora me-a. I’m Italian - I can get away with the accent. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/10 "2002-03-29T19:55:44Z")
Tuna sandwiches are a staple of my diet and will stay that way, mercury be darned! ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/11 "2002-03-29T20:12:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rye \* > \*\*I eat about 1 can every day or other day, I LOVE tunafish. However my friend told me that you should only have 1 can per week because of “mercury poisoning”. Is this true and am I truely at risk by eating the delicious tunafish? \*\* As a tuna (fish, not pork) conneseur, I’d strongly recommend 2 (local?) brands which far exceed the quality and flavor of the national brand “cat food” Starkist & Bumble Bee try to pass off as _solid white_. If you can find them they are [ul][li]“Master’s Choice line caught in olive oil” available at Waldbaums (who just bought out A&P)[/li]“Geisha” available at Pathmark[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/12 "2002-03-29T20:34:57Z")
Of course, line caught or not, mercury risks are still there. In this area “Cento” brand packed in olive oil is one kick-ass can o’ tuna. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/13 "2002-03-29T21:44:18Z")
From [Doctor Tobacco](http://www.geocities.com/mmemym/bits1/fal0019.htm) : **Stephen:** What’s cholesterol? **Hugh:** It’s … well, you know - **Stephen:** Yes I know perfectly well what it is, but I don’t suppose you’d so much as heard of it until a few years ago. You’d die without the stuff. **Hugh:** Yes but too much is bad for you. **Stephen:** Well of course too much is bad for you, that’s what “too much” means you blithering twat. If you had too much water it would be bad for you, wouldn’t it? “Too much” precisely means that quantity which is excessive, that’s what it means. Could you ever say “too much water is good for you”? I mean if it’s too much it’s too much. Too much of anything is too much. Obviously. Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/14 "2002-03-29T22:12:42Z")
Dammit **sailor** , I was going to do that! ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/15 "2002-03-29T22:16:24Z")
Tuna is high in protein, however it isnt the best balanced protein you can eat. There are certain amino acids it is low in. I wouldnt advise eating loads of tuna every day. Balance it with other meats. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/16 "2002-03-30T22:38:19Z")
Mangetout - I DID do that, but no where near as poetically. ---
**Author:** ![Wisest\_Novel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wisest_novel/32/13329_2.png) [@Wisest\_Novel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wisest_Novel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2002, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/17 "2002-03-30T23:02:54Z")
Do **not** eat Chicken of the Sea tuna! Experts have revealed that the company, faced with an inability to catch sufficient free-range tuna, has begun using genetically-engineered fish to increase profit margins. These artificailly enhanced tuna have normal head and tail sections, but an unusually extended middle. Kept in 200-foot long tanks, these mutants grow to the length of their containers in only three months. With only vestigial fins, the beasts are unable to swim. They lay in their coffin-like enclosures, feeding intravenously, much like certain urban lawyers. Something must be done!! I’m sure this is true, because my brother-in-law’s cousin Tony told me so, and he used to work for a guy who went fishing sometimes. Er, sorry. That just came out. Maybe I should take a break from email for a couple of days… ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-tunafish-dangerous/100703/18 "2002-04-02T21:51:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Niobium Knight \* > \*\*Tuna is high in protein, however it isnt the best balanced protein you can eat. There are certain amino acids it is low in. I wouldnt advise eating loads of tuna every day. Balance it with other meats. \*\* I mix in red meat and/or some dairy to provide a good amino cross section. They provide the aminos my body cannot manufacture on it’s own. Tuna is an excellent source of protein otherwise. Other meats are higher in fat and cholesterol.