Report: American Children Not Eating Enough Seafood

A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has revealed that children in the United States are eating less fish and shellfish than in previous years. The decline, according to the report, started in 2007. The trend is in part due to parents having qualms about letting their children eat seafood. Their hesitation comes from concerns about mercury in seafood. Although all fish have mercury in differing levels, high amounts of the substance can be dangerous to children’s nervous system. However, children are missing out on a number of health benefits by not eating seafood. Fish and shellfish have high levels of vitamin D, iodine, and calcium. They are also good sources of minerals, nutrients, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the brain. In addition, studies found that giving fish to children early in life may help keep them from allergic diseases like dermatitis and asthma. Dr. Aaron Bernstein, lead author of the report and a committee member of AAP, believes that the benefits of most types of seafood outweigh their dangers. Hence, the AAP recommended ways for parents to safely incorporate seafood into children’s diets. One of these is checking advisories for mercury contamination before eating seafood caught in lakes or rivers. Following guidelines set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also a good way to ensure safe seafood consumption. The FDA recommends giving children two to three weekly servings of seafood with low mercury levels, such as crab, salmon, skipjack tuna, and sardines. On the other hand, the agency discourages parents from feeding children with king mackerel, marlin, and swordfish.