"Are there current guidelines available, particularly during lactation?
Also, in your practice do you educate mothers about their consumption of
seafood and the risk of mercury exposure for their infants while
breastfeeding?"
The simple answer to both questions is yes. But it can get complicated.
Maine Bureau of Health's guidelines are more stringent than the current
federal guidelines.
FDA Consumer Advisory
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/admehg.html
References: Consumer Advisory on Methylmercury in Commercial Seafood
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/hgpdftoc.html
State of Maine Warnings on Eating Fish and Game
http://www.maine.gov/dhs/ehu/fish/
Most states have advisories specific to their region. Maine's advisory is
for pregnant and nursing women, women who may get pregnant and children
under the age of eight. Maine recommends a more stringent restriction on
fish meals than the federal advisory. Both recommend no consumption of
Shark
Swordfish
King mackerel
Tilefish
The federal advisory is in the process of being updated. See
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2003/ANS01270.html
Draft advisory http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/mehgadvisory1208.html
Hope this is helpful.
Gail Lombardi, MS, RD, CLC
Breastfeeding and Education Coordinator
Maine WIC Nutrition Program
11 State House Station
ASugusta, ME 04333-0011
207-287-5341
***********************************************
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html