Alarm bells have sounded across Europe as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Bloom and Foodwatch revealed alarming levels of mercury contamination in canned tuna. Their latest report calls for immediate action from major supermarkets and public authorities to address the issue and reduce the permitted limits of mercury in tuna.
In an extensive study, Bloom randomly selected 148 cans of tuna from five European countries—France, Germany, England, Spain, and Italy. An independent laboratory tested the samples, revealing that 100% were contaminated with mercury. More concerning, over half of the cans contained mercury levels exceeding the safe limit of 0.3 mg/kg, a threshold established for other fish species.
"The maximum mercury levels currently enforced in Europe were determined based on established contamination rates for tuna, rather than the actual health risks posed by mercury consumption," the report stated. As a result, the permissible limit for canned tuna stands at 1 mg/kg, significantly higher than that for less contaminated fish.
“This discrepancy in regulation allows tuna, one of the most contaminated species, to have a tolerance for mercury that is three times higher than other fish,” the report highlighted. The NGOs argue that there is no health justification for this deviation, asserting that the toxicity of mercury does not diminish based on its source.
Mercury, primarily released into the environment from coal-fired thermal power plants, is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the ten substances of greatest public health concern. In aquatic environments, it transforms into methylmercury, an even more toxic form that poses severe risks to human health.
“The presence of elemental mercury and methylmercury in our food supply is dangerous, particularly for neurological health,” a WHO statement warned. “Neurological and behavioural disorders can occur after exposure to these toxins.”
The NGOs have branded the situation a "true public health scandal" and are urging the European Commission to revise its regulations to align with stricter maximum mercury content levels of 0.3 mg/kg for all fish species.
Camille Dorioz, director of campaigns at Foodwatch, emphasized the urgency of the situation: “We demand that public authorities strengthen regulations immediately and that distributors only sell products that meet the most protective standards.”