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Top 10 Fish Varieties to Avoid
When everything else looks too unhealthy to eat, people tend to resort to eating fish and other produce from the ocean. While some fish may be rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients, there are also plenty of fish that may be poisonous and are treated with antibiotics and pesticides. But before you confuse yourself as to which are safe and which are not, here is a list of the top 10 fish varieties you should avoid eating at all costs.
10. Imported Catfish
Imported catfish from Vietnam are treated with antibiotics which are banned in the United States. The two varieties of catfish, namely Basa and Swai, are not really catfish as per the federal government and so these fish are inspected according to how imported catfish should be inspected. Choose locally raised and harvested catfish, which are responsibly farmed and are abundant. There is also an Asian carp which has the same taste to catfish.
9. Chilean Sea Bass
Chilean sea bass is a very popular fish and is even considered a delicacy. However, in the United States, most of these fish are banned because these are illegally caught. Even if the number of illegal harvesting of fish in the country has significantly reduced in the previous years, the fishstocks are not in good conditions. If people will not stop eating this fish, few years from now, Chilean sea bass will become extinct. There is also a study that showed high mercury content in these fish.
8. Atlantic Cod
One of the fish varieties you should avoid is Atlantic cod. Even though this is one of the important fish for New England fishermen, the rampant illegal and destructive fishing methods makes it ideal to stop eating. The lowering fish stock even makes it very difficult to recommend to consumers. The collapsing of Atlantic cods in the 1990s endangered their species. If you want to continue eating your fish ‘n chips, you better opt for Pacific cods which are very abundant and are properly caught.
7. King Mackerel
King mackerel is one of the fish that contain high levels of mercury. This fish should not be given to pregnant women and even small children because it can harm an unborn baby or the growing child’s nervous system. Avoid eating this fish even in the smallest portions and opt for other varieties of fish that have lower mercury content.
6. Farmed Eel
Farmed eel, yellow eel, silver eel or American eel is a common ingredient used in sushi dishes. While you may be loving sushi, ask whether the fish used in your dish is of an eel or from other fish varieties. These varieties of fish are highly contaminated in mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs. Because it is contained in pens, they may be exposed to pollutants and overharvesting. If you can’t get away with the taste of eels, try Pacific- or Atlantic-caught squid which have the same characteristics of an eel.
5. Atlantic Salmon
In general, salmon fishing is illegal because of the low fish stocks. While there are many farmed salmon in the country today, it is still not advisable. The way salmon is being farmed is not a very pleasant sight. These fish are crowded in fish pens, causing diseases and parasites to infect on the fish and they are then treated with pesticides and antibiotics. While there is a notion to approve genetically engineered salmon to be sold to fish consumers, choose wild Alaskan salmon which is properly caught and lower in mercury content.
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