not Politics, but important. Particularly visa vie China. Do not eat an imported Chinese foodstuffs- or do so at your peril!!
One fish, two fish, bad-for-you-fish. Yes fish, no fish, red fish…OK
fish? Our oceans have become so depleted of wild fish stocks, and so
polluted with industrial contaminants, that trying to figure out the
fish that are both safe and sustainable can make your head spin. "Good
fish" lists can change year after year, because stocks rebound or get
depleted every few years, but there are some fish that, no matter what,
you can always decline.
The nonprofit Food and Water Watch looked at all the varieties of fish
out there, how they were harvested, how certain species are farmed, and
levels of toxic contaminants like mercury or PCBs in the fish, as well
as how heavily local fishermen relied upon fisheries for their economic
survival. These are the 12 fish, they determined, that all of us should
avoid, no matter what.
PLUS: Which packaged goods aren't packed with toxins or preservatives? Find out the 100 Cleanest Packaged Foods.
1. Imported Catfish
Why It's Bad: Nearly 90% of the catfish imported to the US comes
from Vietnam, where use of antibiotics that are banned in the U.S. is
widespread. Furthermore, the two varieties of Vietnamese catfish sold in
the US, Swai and Basa, aren't technically considered catfish by the
federal government and therefore aren't held to the same inspection
rules that other imported catfish are.
Eat This Instead: Stick with domestic, farm-raised catfish,
advises Marianne Cufone, director of the Fish Program at Food &
Water Watch. It's responsibly farmed and plentiful, making it one of the
best fish you can eat. Or, try Asian carp, an invasive species with a
similar taste to catfish that's out-competing wild catfish and
endangering the Great Lakes ecosystem.
2. Caviar
Why It's Bad: Caviar from beluga and wild-caught sturgeon are
susceptible to overfishing, according to the Food and Water Watch
report, but the species are also being threatened by an increase in dam
building that pollutes the water in which they live. All forms of caviar
come from fish that take a long time to mature, which means that it
takes a while for populations to rebound.
Eat This Instead: If you really love caviar, opt for fish eggs
from American Lake Sturgeon or American Hackleback/Shovelnose Sturgeon
caviar from the Mississippi River system.
3. Atlantic Cod
Why It's Bad: This one was difficult to add to the "dirty dozen
list," says Cufone, because it is so vital to the economic health of New
England fishermen. "However, chronic mismanagement by the National
Marine Fisheries Service and low stock status made it very difficult to
recommend," she says. Atlantic cod stocks collapsed in the mid-1990s and
are in such disarray that the species is now listed as one step above
endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red
List of Threatened Species.
Eat This Instead: The good news, if you love fish 'n' chips
(which is nearly always made with cod), is that Pacific cod stocks are
still strong and are one of Food and Water Watch's best fish picks.
4. American Eel
Why It's Bad: Also called yellow or silver eel, this fish, which
frequently winds up in sushi dishes, made its way onto the list because
it's highly contaminated with PCBs and mercury. The fisheries are also
suffering from some pollution and overharvesting.
Eat This Instead: If you like the taste of eel, opt for Atlantic- or Pacific-caught squid instead.
5. Imported Shrimp
Why It's Bad: Imported shrimp actually holds the designation of
being the dirtiest of the Dirty Dozen, says Cufone, and it's hard to
avoid, as 90% of shrimp sold in the U.S. is imported. "Imported farmed
shrimp comes with a whole bevy of contaminants: antibiotics, residues
from chemicals used to clean pens, filth like mouse hair, rat hair, and
pieces of insects," Cufone says. "And I didn't even mention things like
E. coli that have been detected in imported shrimp." Part of this has to
do with the fact that less than 2% of ALL imported seafood (shrimp,
crab, catfish, or others) gets inspected before its sold, which is why
it's that much more important to buy domestic seafood. (Still need
convincing? Find out the Top 5 Reasons You Should Never Eat Shrimp Again.)
Eat This Instead: Look for domestic shrimp. Seventy percent of
domestic shrimp comes from the Gulf of Mexico, which relies heavily on
shrimp for economic reasons. Pink shrimp from Oregon are another good
choice; the fisheries there are certified under the stringent Marine
Stewardship Council guidelines.
6. Atlantic Flatfish
Why It's Bad: This group of fish includes flounder, sole, and
halibut that are caught off the Atlantic coast. They found their way
onto the list because of heavy contamination and overfishing that dates
back to the 1800s. According to Food and Water Watch, populations of
these fish are as low as 1% of what's necessary to be considered
sustainable for long-term fishing.
Eat This Instead: Pacific halibut seems to be doing well, but the
group also recommends replacing these fish with other mild-flavored
white-fleshed fish, such as domestically farmed catfish or tilapia.
7. Atlantic Salmon (both wild-caught and farmed)
Why It's Bad: It's actually illegal to capture wild Atlantic salmon
because the fish stocks are so low, and they're low, in part, because
of farmed salmon. Salmon farming is very polluting: Thousands of fish
are crammed into pens, which leads to the growth of diseases and
parasites that require antibiotics and pesticides. Often, the fish
escape and compete with native fish for food, leading to declines in
native populations. Adding to our salmon woes, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration is moving forward with approving genetically engineered
salmon to be sold, unlabeled, to unsuspecting seafood lovers. That
salmon would be farmed off the coast of Panama, and it's unclear how it
would be labeled. Currently, all fish labeled "Atlantic salmon" come
from fish farms.
Eat This Instead: Opt for wild Alaskan salmon now, and in the event that GE salmon is officially approved.
8. Imported King Crab
Why It's Bad: The biggest problem with imported crab is that most
of it comes from Russia, where limits on fish harvests aren't strongly
enforced. But this crab also suffers from something of an identity
crisis, says Cufone: "Imported king crab is often misnamed Alaskan king
crab, because most people think that's name of the crab," she says,
adding that she's often seen labels at supermarkets that say "Alaskan
King Crab, Imported." Alaskan king crab is a completely separate animal,
she says, and it's much more responsibly harvested than the imported
stuff.
Eat This Instead: When you shop for king crab, whatever the
label says, ask whether it comes from Alaska or if it's imported.
Approximately 70% of the king crab sold in the U.S. is imported, so it's
important to make that distinction and go domestic.
9. Shark
Why It's Bad: Problems associated with our eating too many sharks
happen at all stages of the food chain, says Cufone. For one, these
predatory fish are extremely high in mercury, which poses threats to
humans. But ocean ecosystems suffer, too. "With fewer sharks around, the
species they eat, like cownose rays and jellyfish, have increased in
numbers," Cufone says. "And the rays are eating--and depleting--scallops
and other fish." There are fewer of those fish in the oceans for us to
eat, placing an economic strain on coastal communities that depend on
those fisheries.
Eat this instead: Among the recommendations for shark alternatives are Pacific halibut and Atlantic mackerel.
10. Orange Roughy
Why It's Bad: In addition to having high levels of mercury, orange
roughy can take between 20 and 40 years to reach full maturity and
reproduces late in life, which makes it difficult for populations to
recover from overfishing. Orange roughy has such a reputation for being
overharvested that some large restaurant chains, including Red Lobster,
refuse to serve it. However, it still pops up in grocer freezers,
sometimes mislabeled as "sustainably harvested." There are no fisheries
of orange roughy that are considered well-managed or are certified by
the Marine Stewardship Council, so avoid any that you see.
Eat This Instead: Opt for yellow snapper or domestic catfish to get the same texture as orange roughy in your recipes.
11. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Why It's Bad: A recent analysis by
The New York Times found
that Atlantic bluefin tuna has the highest levels of mercury of any type
of tuna. To top it off, bluefin tuna are severely overharvested, to the
point of reaching near-extinction levels, and are considered
"critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of
Nature. Rather than trying to navigate the ever-changing recommendations
for which tuna is best, consider giving it up altogether and switching
to a healthy, flavorful alternative, such as Alaska wild-caught salmon.
Eat This Instead: If you really can't give up tuna, opt for
American or Canadian (but not imported!) albacore tuna, which is caught
while it's young and doesn't contain as high levels of mercury.
12. Chilean Sea Bass
Why It's Bad: Most Chilean sea bass sold in the US comes from
fishermen who have captured them illegally, although the US Department
of State says that illegal harvesting of the fish has declined in recent
years. Nevertheless, fish stocks are in such bad shape that the
nonprofit Greenpeace estimates that, unless people stop eating this
fish, the entire species could be commercially extinct within five
years. Food and Water Watch's guide notes that these fish are high in
mercury, as well.
Eat This Instead: These fish are very popular and considered a
delicacy, but you can get the same texture and feel with US
hook-and-line-caught haddock.
Source:
http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/blogs/healthy-living/12-fish-never-ever-eat-162200617.html
