EFSA Survey Finds Mercury Advice Is Not Reaching Fish Shoppers Clearly

Fish remains an important part of many healthy diets, but choosing which species to eat—and how often—matters when mercury exposure is a concern. A new European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) survey suggests that consumers are eating fish and seafood more frequently while official advice about mercury is not always translating into different shopping habits.

The research, published on 12 February 2026, examined consumption patterns and awareness of national dietary advice across the 27 EU Member States, Iceland and Norway. EFSA used one survey in 2023 and a second survey in 2024, including larger shares of pregnant and breastfeeding women because developing babies are among the groups most vulnerable to methylmercury exposure.

What the survey found

About 60% of respondents said they eat fish and seafood. Among those consumers, 34% of adolescents and adults and 33% of pregnant women said they ate species with the highest maximum mercury limits three or more times per week. EFSA cautions that these figures should be interpreted carefully because survey samples are not perfectly representative, but the pattern still matters for everyday food choices.

The species highlighted by EFSA include large predator fish such as shark, swordfish and some tuna, including bigeye and bluefin tuna. These fish feed on smaller fish and can accumulate more mercury over their lifetimes. The linked EFSA Journal report covered 38 fish, crustacean and mollusc species grouped according to their regulatory mercury limits.

The survey also found a communication gap. Around five in ten consumers recognised health benefits associated with fish and seafood, while about one in ten knew about related health risks. Mercury was the most widely recognised contaminant, but awareness of national advice varied between countries and population groups. Taste, cost and the wish to eat a healthy diet often appeared to influence behaviour more strongly than official recommendations.

What current advice generally means

National guidance differs, so shoppers should check the recommendations issued by the food-safety or public-health authority in their own country. EFSA says that most EU national authorities recommend one to two portions per week of fish and seafood species with higher mercury maximum limits, or three to four portions of species with lower limits. The exact advice can differ for pregnant people, those who may become pregnant, breastfeeding women and young children.

These recommendations are designed to balance benefits and risks. Fish and seafood provide protein and other nutrients, and EFSA notes that fish consumption is associated with benefits for infant development and cardiovascular health in adults. At the same time, exposure to methylmercury is linked to effects on brain and nervous-system development in unborn babies and young children.

The distinction is important: EFSA is not advising people to avoid all fish. The practical question is how to vary species and follow the advice that applies to the people eating the meal.

A simpler way to shop and cook

Start with the species. “Fish” is too broad a category for mercury guidance. Check the name on the label or ask the fishmonger whether it is a large predatory species.
Check your national guidance. Advice is country-specific and can include different limits for pregnancy, breastfeeding and children. Use the official source for your location rather than relying on a generic social-media list.
Vary the menu. When local guidance recommends limiting higher-mercury species, rotate them with species placed in lower-mercury categories. This keeps fish in the diet while reducing repeated reliance on the same large predator.
Track frequency, not just portion size. If a household regularly eats fish several times per week, write down the species for a short period. This makes it easier to spot repeated servings of the same higher-mercury fish.
Use extra care for vulnerable groups. Pregnant people, those planning a pregnancy, breastfeeding women and families feeding young children should follow the specific advice from their national authority.

What this announcement does—and does not—change

EFSA’s announcement is a survey of consumption and awareness, not a product recall, contamination alert or new universal meal plan. It does not say that every portion of tuna, swordfish or another named species is unsafe. It shows instead that official advice is not always well understood or reflected in reported eating patterns.

EFSA is continuing broader work on the risks and benefits of fish consumption, including exposure to several contaminants. Its current food-contaminants overview says that this risk-benefit assessment is expected to support future national dietary advice. Until that work is complete, the most useful action for home cooks is straightforward: keep fish and seafood choices varied, identify the species being served and follow the current official guidance for the people at the table.