Safe Seafood Guide

How do you gaurentee that the seafood you are eating is safe?  Women of childbearing age, pregnant women, nursing moms and young kids need to be especially careful to avoid anything potentially hazardous. 

 

Here are some general recommendations from Health Magazine:

1.  Limit seafood consumption to 12 ounces per week (about two meals per week)

2.  Eat smaller fish instead of larger fish to avoid high mercury levels.  Larger fish include shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.  Smaller, safer fish include shrimp, salmon, pollock and catfish.

3.  Instead of "white" or albacore tuna which can be high in mercury, choose light canned tuna.

4.  Check the safety advisories for fish caught in local rivers or coastal areas.  If there are no advisories, eat only 6 ounces of local fish a week and no other seafood. 

5.  Pregnany women chosing to avoid tuna should replace it with other sources of Omega-3 fats found in salmon, fortified eggs, supplements or other fortified foods. 

6.  Check www.epa.gov/waterscience/fishadvice/advice.html for more information. 

 

Now that we know what fish is safe to eat, what should your fish look and smell?  How long can you keep fresh fish?  Domenica Marchetti from Health magazine gives us the following advice.  We need to use fresh fish, live clams, mussels and scallops within two days of purchase.  Freshly shucked oyesters can be kept for 5-7 days.  Crabs and lobsters should be cooked the day you buy them.  Your fish should have clear eyes, gills intact, fresh, pink/red gills, glistening skin (good thing all healthy creatures should have this), and moist, firm flesh.  Refrigerate fish in an airtight container upon arriving home.  Do not store fish in water.  Instead, cover live clams, oyesters, mussels, crabs, lobsters and crayfish in a moist paper towel.  Use the guide of cooking 10 minutes per each inch thickness at 400-450 degrees.  Shrimp is a snap in 3-5 minutes and anything with a shell should open.  If the shell does not open, do not eat them!

 

Seafood is a great, healthy staple for the upcoming holiday season.  Have a swimming good time with your new tips!