Investigation uncovers alarming mercury levels in tuna across Europe

An alarming new investigation by the environmental NGO BLOOM uncovered widespread mercury contamination in every can of tuna tested.

The study, which analyzed nearly 150 cans from five European countries, England, Germany, Italy, France, and Spain, found that all of them contained mercury at varying levels.

Mercury, a potent neurotoxin identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top ten chemicals most harmful to human health, poses significant risks, particularly to fetal development and brain function in children.

BLOOM's findings show that mercury contamination is not only prevalent but has been knowingly tolerated by both public authorities and the influential tuna industry since the 1970s.

The investigation reveals that economic interests have long taken precedence over consumer health, with regulatory standards set to benefit the tuna industry rather than protect public well-being. The report reveals that the mercury limits for tuna are three times higher than those for other fish, like cod, despite no scientific justification for this discrepancy.

 - Toxic impact of mercury -

Mercury pollution in oceans escalated in the past two centuries, and as a top predator in the marine food chain, tuna accumulate significant amounts of mercury from their prey. This accumulation makes tuna one of the most contaminated fish species.

Regular consumption of tuna, especially methylmercury, the toxic form of mercury found in fish, represents a major health threat, particularly to children and pregnant women. Even small amounts of mercury can cause irreversible damage to brain development.

BLOOM’s testing revealed that all 148 randomly selected cans from England, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy were contaminated with mercury. In fact, 57 percent of the tins exceeded the European Union’s (EU) strictest mercury limit of 0.3 mg/kg, with one sample containing mercury levels 13 times higher than the acceptable limit.

 - Flawed health standards to protect profits -

BLOOM’s research exposes how global health bodies, including the WHO and the European Commission, have failed to implement mercury limits based on public health concerns. Instead, the limits for tuna have been set to allow the maximum amount of contaminated fish to be sold, benefiting the tuna industry at the expense of public safety.

The investigation reveals that the current mercury threshold for tuna, set at 1 mg/kg, is three times higher than for other fish, with no clear scientific rationale for this disparity. This has allowed the tuna industry to continue selling products with dangerously high mercury content.

Julie Guterman, a BLOOM researcher, emphasized the ethical implications of this practice, “It is hard to believe that both industry leaders and policymakers knowingly prioritize profit over the health of consumers. By manipulating regulatory thresholds, they have made it possible for mercury-contaminated tuna to be sold legally, all while misleading the public into thinking these products are safe.”