How to Be a Conscious Eater

than the risks of mercury contamination. There are far more

types of fish that are safe and even really good for you to eat

than there are types that are harmful. So, know the main ones

to avoid for mercury contamination—king mackerel, marlin,

orange roughy, shark, swordfish, tilefish, and bigeye tuna—

and otherwise, enjoy. Your baby will thank you.

FOOD SAFETY AND ALLERGIES

Foodborne illness from seafood is unfortunately quite com-

mon. It can come from improper handling during cleaning,

transportation, storage, or processing, or from the increased

risk of viruses when eating raw fish or shellfish. Although deli-

cious in forms from sushi to oysters (both of which I personally

love), the safety questions around raw fish and seafood are

nothing to take lightly. The FDA website has a helpful resource

called “Fresh and Frozen Seafood: Selecting and Serving It

Safely.” Their tips include the following:

Avoid purchasing frozen seafood packages with lots of

frost or ice crystals. That could indicate thawing and

refreezing, which can spoil fish and seafood.

Store raw fish and seafood in the refrigerator if you’ll

use it within two days of purchase; otherwise store it in

the freezer.

Once it’s cooked and ready to serve, keep cold seafood

cold (on ice) and keep hot seafood hot, especially if either

will be out for more than two hours.

And if you’re having people over for a party or dinner,

ask ahead about fish and shellfish allergies, because both are

among the top eight food allergens for Americans.

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