The National Environmental Trust is attacking last week's
recommendation by the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies
coalition for pregnant women and nursing mothers to eat 6 ounces
of fish as an "industry-backed" manipulation. The National
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies coalition recommendation runs
counter to Food and Drug Administration and Environmental
Protection Agency advice to avoid fish because of mercury
contamination, which can disrupt the normal development of the
brain. The coalition argued that women are failing to get enough
Omega-3 fatty acids because they aren't eating enough fish, and
that the need for Omeg-3 fats outweighed the risk from mercury.
The National Environmental Trust says the coalition admitted to
taking $60,000 to help promote its recommendation from a fishing
industry group, the National Fisheries Institute. "Fish are not
the only source of essential omega-3 fatty acids. Pregnant women
can eat eggs, flax, nuts, and kiwi fruits and still receive high
concentrations of omeg