Experts have warned that almost all tins of tuna purchased in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Britain "were contaminated with mercury," according to findings from a recent study. The toxic metal can pose significant risks to pregnant women and children, and could be linked to cancer , experts warn. Methylmercury, a toxic metal linked to cancer and known for its dangers to vulnerable groups, was found in nearly all of the 150 cans purchased across these countries.
The study’s tests showed "contamination" with methylmercury, which is known to impair brain development and can lead to life-threatening lung damage. Researchers highlighted the findings as "a colossal risk to public health" and called on governments to take "urgent" action. Karine Jacquemart, CEO of the consumer rights group Foodwatch France — one of the organisations behind the report — stated: "What we end up with on our dinner plates is a colossal risk to public health that's not considered seriously.
We won't give up until we have a more protective European standard." Under the current EU and UK regulations, the mercury limit for tuna is set at 1 mg/kg, and for other fish, like cod, at 0.3 mg/kg.
Foodwatch and the Paris-based NGO Bloom reported that every one of the 148 tins tested contained mercury, with 57 percent exceeding the 0.3 mg/kg limit. One particular tin bought in a Paris Carrefour City store was found to have a mercury level of 3.
9 mg/kg — 13 times the 0.3 mg/kg limit, according to the rep.