In the Race
Now, here, you see, it takes all the blogging I can do to keep in the same place.
If I want to get somewhere else, I must blog twice as fast as that!
You see, I'm in
the Red Queen's Race...
Hmpf...What Do They Think We're Eating? Canned Cat Food?
By Janet Evans
Saturday, Aug 30 2008, 05:15 PM
Albacore Tuna
Allow me to put down my fried cheese curd…because it’s time for another study.
Oh, it’s a serious study, mind you. I have no problem with the study itself.
There’s just one part of it that bothers me.
You see that picture of that Albacore tuna up there
Yes, that one.
That nice, white, high quality Albacore tuna, along with swordfish…that’s the problem.
Well, sort of.
Actually, mercury is the problem.
See…the study I’m speaking of is about mercury and women, and the dangers to them.
We all know about the dangers of mercury poisoning. And there are some groups who are at especially high risk…children and pregnant women. You don’t want to be eating too much high risk food when you are pregnant. That includes fish, such as tuna and swordfish.
Well the “study” says that women in the Northeast (where I am originally from) have higher levels of mercury poisoning) than those in the Midwest. We should be very happy about that.
I know…I should just let it go there.
You know, when I was growing up in the Northeast, I, as a child, happened to eat quite a bit of swordfish. I actually liked it. We ate whole Maine lobsters too. Unfortunately, dumb kid that I was, I turned my nose up at lobster, without even wanting to try it when I was very young. It was cheap enough then…I don’t know why my parents didn’t push it on me. They did other foods. But I eventually learned.
Back to my “study.”
Here’s a graph
So, the study has this to say:
"The nation's first region-by-region analysis of mercury in women's blood shows vast differences based on where they live, with the highest levels found in the Northeast.
There, nearly one in five women of child-bearing age have eaten so much contaminated fish that the toxic metal in their blood would pose a risk to their fetuses, compared with one in 10 nationally, the federally financed study found.
Women in the Midwest generally had much less mercury in their bodies; less than 3 percent exceeded a safety level intended to protect the developing brain before birth."
Okay…The next part is what I find interesting…they now include money in their findings:
"The study also found that women who make more money tend to have higher mercury levels. That may be because they are better able to afford expensive seafood, such as swordfish or high-grade tuna, that often is more contaminated."
Now ladies…I don’t know about you…but I don’t think we women in the Midwest aren't necessarily going out and buying the dark meat tuna, are we?
Or maybe we’re bypassing that and heading straight for the cat food isle and picking up the can made with this:
Atlantic Bonito
Yes…the Bonito…typically used in cat food. Related to the tuna but smaller in size. Much more oily. I know a little about bonito. I’ve actually eaten Bonito…my brother used to catch them in Martha’s Vineyard. Do I like it? Not so much.
You know, maybe women who make more money aren't eating balanced meals. Maybe they are eating out more. Maybe women who make less money aren't eating fish...I don't know. Maybe Midwest women eat more cheese and ice cream.
I don't care how much money I make...when I buy tuna I buy the best type and yes, I'll eat lots of seafood.
You can read the study HERE
