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Washington, DC - New dietary recommendations for children aged two and older issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) and now endorsed as official policy by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reconfirm that fish, such as canned tuna, is a safe food that children need for optimal health during their formative years.

Published in the February 7, 2006 issue of the journal Pediatrics, the new AHA/AAP guidelines state that "fish is an important food with growing evidence of potential benefit" and advocate that children and adolescents eat 2 servings of fish a week. This is because fish, such as canned tuna, is high in protein, low in saturated fat and trans fat and contains essential omega 3 fatty acids that promote eye and brain development and contribute to a healthy heart.

Of key significance, the new guidelines agree with the position of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that children can reap the many health benefits of fish while keeping their mercury intake low by eating a variety of fish and especially those low in mercury. According to FDA, the most commonly eaten fish that contain very low mercury levels are canned light tuna, salmon, shrimp, pollock and catfish.

In making these recommendations, AHA reviewed the most current science on the prevention of cardiovascular risk factors beginning at a young age and concluded that fish consumption plays an important role even at an early age. This is because fish, such as canned tuna, are rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which are important for child growth and development and associated with a lower risk of heart disease later in life. Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in most seafood and especially in cold-water varieties like tuna, one of the most omega-3 rich fish species.

AHA and AAP also reviewed what American children are currently eating, finding that children and adolescents often inadequately consume fish, along with fruits and vegetables. For this reason, the new pediatric nutrition guidelines recommend a diet that primarily relies on fish, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, beans and lean meat. This is consistent with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and guidelines issued by the American Dietetic Association.

To address the obesity epidemic, which now affects an estimated 9 million children aged 6 to 19 years (15 percent of all U.S. children), the new guidelines also call for the consumption of nutrient-dense foods, such as canned tuna. Canned tuna is low in fat and very low in calories compared to other protein sources. There are 116 calories in a 100-gram serving of canned tuna packed in water compared with 208 calories in the same serving of turkey.

"Now that obesity is reaching epidemic levels in children and adolescents, children need more nutrient dense foods and especially lean protein sources, like canned tuna," said Barbara J. Moore, Ph.D., president and CEO of Shape Up America! and a member of the Tuna Nutrition Council, which advises the U.S. Tuna Foundation (USTF) on nutrition and public health matters. "Moms need to know that fish, such as canned tuna, is one of nature's healthy fast foods, which is why the American Heart Association recommends it twice a week for children's health."

More information about canned tuna and its health benefits is available at the USTF Web site, www.tunafacts.com.

Established in 1976, the U.S. Tuna Foundation (USTF) is the national organization representing the canned tuna processors and the fishermen who supply them and addresses issues ranging from fishing access arrangements to federal and state regulations and domestic marketing.

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