Is Tilapia High in Mercury? – Everything You Need to Know

Tilapia is low in mercury and it’s one of the safest fishes to eat in the era of pollution. So, if you’re asking “Is tilapia high in mercury?” then you have got your answer.

However, there are many types of tilapia and the mercury level can be lower or higher depending on the habitat of the tilapia as well. So, it’s important to learn more about it to understand whether it’s safe to eat tilapia.

We’ll cover everything you need to know about tilapia and its mercury count below and help you make the best decisions for yourself. We’ll also compare tilapia mercury counts based on the habitat, whether it is possible to get mercury poisoning, and much more.

Wild Tilapia or Farmed Raised Tilapia, which is high in Mercury

Farmed raised tilapia has much lower mercury compared to wild tilapia. That being said, it’s safe to eat both of these, and the mercury level is not dangerous. You need to consider the environment as well before choosing the right one.

The pollution rate of the world is increasing alarmingly as time passes. That pollution is having a very bad effect on the wild tilapia and making it less and less safe to consume. So, if you consume wild tilapia, you should expect a spike in mercury as they are not grown in monitored areas.

On the other hand, farmed raised tilapia is grown in a controlled environment, which is free from any pollution. Everything from the water tanks to the food is free from toxins and pollutants, which ensures the healthiest environment for the fish to grow in. That’s why you can consume it without any worries.

So, if you ask “Does tilapia have high mercury?” then the answer would be no. But it’s important to understand the effect on the habitat. Typically, the farmed tilapia will have lower mercury than wild tilapia.

How Much Mercury is in Tilapia?

The MERCURY CONCENTRATION MEAN (PPM) of a tilapia is 0.013 and the MERCURY CONCENTRATION MEDIAN (PPM) is 0.004. Anyone who is asking “Is Tilapia High in Mercury?” should know that the mercury rate is actually very low. It’s on par with healthy fishes like salmon, and it’s safe to eat tilapia.

That level of mercury is suitable for kids over 2 years old and also harmless for a pregnant woman. Also, a woman who’s currently breastfeeding also can consume tilapia without any issues.

So, if you want to have tilapia in your diet, you can safely have it without worrying about any health issues. Just make sure to keep a variety of fish in the diet and switch things up every now and then. That’ll not only help you keep healthy, but you’ll be able to enjoy the food even more by bringing such variety in your meals.

Is it safe to eat Tilapia every day?

While you can eat tilapia every day without any trouble, you should keep it at 2-3 times a week for the best results. That’s recommended by the FDA and you should abide by that if you want to have a long and healthy life.

Also, you should keep it around 8 to 12 ounces per week as well. That’ll help you avoid any sort of health risks that might try to sneak up on you. However, you should know that it’s pretty nutrient-heavy as a fish and comes right after salmon.

It contains more sodium, calories, and total fat than bacon and other processed meats, which can nourish your body effectively. While omega 3 is low in tilapia, it’s pretty great for consumption and you should have it in your diet. Just make sure to mix it up at days with other fishes like salmon, cod, etc.

Can you get mercury poisoning from tilapia?

For an average person, you will not get mercury poisoning from tilapia. With the PPM and PPM being 0.013 and 0.004, it has a very low mercury count. The mercury count is so low that it can’t possibly create any health risks.

However, according to the FDA approvals, you should not eat more than 8 to 12 ounces of tilapia in a week. That means having tilapia twice or thrice every week is ideal for an average person. Remember, it’s not the best idea to eat the same thing over and over as our bodies requires many kinds of nutrients that is impossible to get from one source.

It’s best to keep your diet balanced with meat or other fish. You can try red meat or healthy fish to have a rich and nutritious diet. Go for beef, salmon, cod, shrimp, etc to spice up your diet and keep it both delicious and healthy at the same time.

Check Related Article : Is Yellowfin Tuna High In Mercury

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now have the answer to “Is tilapia high in mercury? and a clear idea about whether you should add tilapia to your diet. As you saw, it’s one of the safest fishes that you can get for yourself and your family. Even kids and pregnant women can safely eat tilapia and won’t have to deal with any issues whatsoever.

So, you can now add tilapia to your diet and have all the delusions recipes that you can cook with tilapia. Just make sure to try to get a wild-raised tilapia as it’s always a better option than the farmed ones.