A new study published today in The Lancet, a leading medical journal, reaffirms what the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and numerous public health organizations have known for years: Women and young children should eat more - not less - seafood, like canned tuna, that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The research found that children of mothers who ate seafood during pregnancy exhibited stronger motor, communication and social skills than children of mothers who ate little or no seafood.

"This study underscores how vital omega-3 fatty acids are for fetal neurodevelopment," said Anne Forristall Luke, President of the U.S. Tuna Foundation (USTF). "I hope these findings, which reinforce that the benefits of eating seafood far outweigh any risks, will help clarify mixed messages and confusion stemming from federal guidelines about seafood consumption."

Researchers led by Joseph Hibbeln (National Institutes of Health) and colleagues from Bristol University, concluded there is no evidence to support advising pregnant women to limit seafood consumption to 12 ounces (340 grams) a week, in accordance with the 2004 joint recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency. Conversely, the study showed that children of mothers who ate less than 12 ounces of seafood per week were more likely to exhibit stunted growth, slow information processing or poor motor skills than those whose mothers ate more than the recommended amounts.

The study also noted that the FDA's intent to limit fetal exposure to trace amounts of neurotoxins could result in pregnant women ingesting inadequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids for fetal neurodevelopment.

"These findings are among the strongest from a series of recent studies that clearly prove seafood consumption should be an integral part of a healthy diet - before, during, and after pregnancy," Luke said. "Misinformation about the FDA advisory and who it applies to has caused Americans to eat less than half of the recommended amount of seafood per week. Canned tuna is an inexpensive, readily available source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids. The USTF strongly encourages pregnant women to consult with their doctors and to include more fatty fish, like canned tuna, in their diets."

For more information, please visit www.tunafoundation.org.

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