7 Kinds of Fish You Should Never Eat
Wake Forest University School of Medicine researchers say tilapia is one of the most widely consumed fish in America. The problem with that? It contains very low levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and, perhaps worse, very high levels of inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids.
Sustaining high levels of inflammation in the body can worsen symptoms of autoimmune disorders and may be linked to chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
If you must eat this fish, avoid tilapia from China, where farming practices are particularly worrisomAtlantic cod is a species proven to be vitally important to feeding the New World civilization and early colonization of the Caribbean Sea, but the heavy fishing over the last thousand years has taken its toll. In the late 1990s, catastrophe struck: The fishery collapsed.
Although the female cod releases more than a hundred million eggs, only a few are able to survive to adulthood. According to Oceana, scientists agree that North Atlantic food webs have fundamentally changed as a result of the Atlantic Cod collapse, and the species is currently considered vulnerable to extinction.
If you’re a fan of cod liver oil, make sure it’s not sourced from Atlantic cod. Instead, opt for Alaskan cod caugBeluga sturgeon are ancient fish that are highly sought for their fish eggs, aka caviar. In fact, this fish grows to be very large, can live to be 100 years old and can carry several hundred pounds of caviar, which can be worth up to $3,500 a pound.ht with a longline, pot or jig.e. Better sources are the U.S., Canada, tAccording to Oceana, the fish that produces this prized caviar is in major trouble:he Netherlands, Ecuador and Peru.If you absolutely cannot give up caviar, Seafood Watch recommends caviar from blue sturgeon raised in recirculating aquaculture systems in the U.S. as a more sustainable alternative.Chilean Sea Bass
Actually named the Patagonian toothfish, seafood distributors started marketing this deep-sea predator fish as “Chilean sea bass” because it sounded less intimidating. It worked. Now common on menus around the U.S., Chilean sea bass overfishing has left this species in serious trouble.
Aside from overfishing, its high mercury levels are also problematic. Furthermore, harvesting the fish from Chile is also plagued by poor management and bycatch problems.A 2016 study found 70 percent to 80 percent of pangasius samples were contaminated with Vibrio bacteria — the microbes behind most cases of shellfish poisoning. Additionally, aside from destroying important river life and wetlands, this fish factory farming method results in fish swimming in waste and sludge. They’re also commonly treated with a broad range of antibiotics, in addition to pesticides and disinfectants.
If you see swai, basa, striped catfish or any type of imported catfish on the menu, run. Take it as a sign that the restaurant isn’t taking seafood safety or sustainability seriously.
17 Fish You Should Never Eat, Plus Safer Seafood Options