Tag: High mercury foods

According to the FDA, tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico holds the highest mean mercury concentration among commercial fish, making it a critical concern for those monitoring seafood intake. The amount of mercury in fish is not uniform across all species, and knowing which ones to limit is key for a healthy diet.

A 2008 model estimated the total amount of mercury deposited into the oceans annually to be 3,700 metric tons, much of which is converted into a toxic form that contaminates the marine food chain. This accumulation process means that certain foods, particularly some fish, contain significantly higher levels of mercury than others.

Methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin, bioaccumulates up the aquatic food chain, meaning larger, longer-lived fish contain the highest concentrations. This makes seafood, particularly large predatory species, the primary food source to consider when asking what food has the highest mercury content.