New Dietary Guidelines advise Americans to eat two servings of fish per week - August 12, 2004

New Dietary Guidelines Advise Americans to Eat Two Servings of Fish per Week

New recommendations from the federal advisory committee charged with reviewing and revising the Dietary Guidelines for Americans will include for the first time advice to eat two servings of fish per week. The advisory committee’s report will be submitted to the Departments of Agriculture and health and Human Services within the next two weeks, and final guidelines will be issued early next year.

According to an article in the late edition of the August 12, 2004 New York Times, the new guidelines will “advise the public to eat two servings of fish a week, especially those high in omega-3 fatty acids to reduce the risk of heart disease. Pregnant and lactating women and small children are advised to avoid eating fish with high mercury content.”

This latest advice recognizes the large body of scientific evidence that shows the benefits of fish consumption and positive role that increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet can have in decreasing risks of common ailments such as heart disease. The New York Seafood Council has been promoting the message to eat seafood twice per week for many years, and is delighted that the same recommendation will now be include in the U.S. government’s dietary guidelines.