Breastfeeding mothers considering sushi consumption: Evaluating safety and potential risks
Breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women should be mindful of the seafood they consume, as certain types of fish can pose risks to both the mother and the baby. Here are some key points to consider.
Firstly, it is best to ask the restaurant staff for information about the source of the fish, particularly when dining out. This is crucial as some high-mercury fish, such as swordfish, king mackerel, shark, tilefish, and bigeye tuna, should be avoided during breastfeeding due to the potential harm mercury can cause to a baby's developing brain and nervous system.
On the other hand, breastfeeding mothers should consume low-mercury fish, which provide essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) crucial for infant brain development. Recommended low-mercury fish options include canned light tuna (skipjack), salmon, sardines, shrimp, lobster, clams, mussels, and oysters (when properly cooked).
When consuming seafood, it's important to limit intake to 8 to 12 ounces (2 to 3 servings) per week of low-mercury fish, cook shellfish thoroughly to avoid infections, and avoid raw seafood sushi made from high-mercury fish due to both mercury content and risk of bacterial contamination.
Eating sushi at a restaurant can pose risks, particularly due to cross-contamination, which occurs when the people working in restaurant kitchens use the same tools to prepare cooked and uncooked fish. To reduce this risk, it is wise to ask about the source of the fish and the restaurant's safe-handling policy.
Pregnant women should avoid raw fish due to the risk of bacteria and parasites, such as listeria. Symptoms of listeria infection include diarrhea, fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and pregnancy-related complications such as stillbirth, pregnancy loss, or preterm labor. Listeria is less of a concern for breastfeeding women because the bacteria do not pass through the breast milk to the baby.
In summary, it is not safe for breastfeeding women to eat certain types of high-mercury fish, and the best fish choices are those low in mercury and properly prepared. Avoiding high-mercury fish protects the baby's developing nervous system while still allowing the mother to benefit from the nutrients in safer seafood options. Pregnant and breastfeeding women can reduce their risk of becoming unwell from eating sushi or other foods by practicing safe food-handling techniques at home and eating at reputable restaurants.
Alternatives to fish sushi for breastfeeding women include vegetable maki rolls containing avocado, cucumber, and pickled daikon, vegetable nigiri, and inari. Eating fish, whether raw or cooked, can provide several benefits to both a breastfeeding woman and the breastfed baby, particularly omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, which are essential for developing infants.
References: [1] FDA. (2021). Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/fish-what-pregnant-women-parents-should-know [2] ATSDR. (2012). Toxicological Profile for Mercury. Retrieved from https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp13.pdf [3] NHS. (2020). Fish and shellfish: Choosing and storing. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/fish-and-shellfish-choosing-and-storing/ [4] EPA. (2018). Fish Advisories: King Mackerel. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/fish-tech/fish-advisories-king-mackerel [5] NOAA. (2020). Swordfish. Retrieved from https://www.seafoodnutrition.org/seafood-benefits/seafood-benefits-detail/swordfish/
- Recognizing the importance of seafood consumption for breastfeeding mothers, one should always enquire about the source of the fish, particularly in restaurants.
- High-mercury fish, such as swordfish, king mackerel, shark, tilefish, and bigeye tuna, should be avoided during breastfeeding to safeguard the baby's developing brain and nervous system.
- Low-mercury fish are beneficial for breastfeeding mothers as they offer essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vital for infant brain development.
- Canned light tuna (skipjack), salmon, sardines, shrimp, lobster, clams, mussels, and oysters are recommended low-mercury fish options.
- A weekly intake of 8 to 12 ounces (2 to 3 servings) of low-mercury fish is ideal for breastfeeding mothers.
- Cook shellfish thoroughly to avoid infections.
- Raw seafood sushi made from high-mercury fish should be avoided due to both mercury content and risk of bacterial contamination.
- To minimize risks associated with sushi, one should ask about the source of the fish and the restaurant's safe-handling policy.
- Pregnant women should avoid raw fish due to the risk of bacterial and parasitic infections like listeria.
- Listeria infection can cause diarrhea, fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and pregnancy complications such as stillbirth, pregnancy loss, or preterm labor.
- Vegetable maki rolls, vegetable nigiri, and inari can be enjoyed as alternatives to fish sushi by breastfeeding women.
- The nutritional benefits of eating fish, particularly omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, are essential for developing infants.
- In addition to seafood, focusing on health and wellness during the postnatal period includes maintaining a balanced diet and regular fitness and exercise.
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