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Why is Alcatraz
Seafoods Albacore Tuna Low in Mercury?
The Albacore Tuna
we select for canning are caught off the icy waters if the Pacific North
West coastline (a sustainable source) by fisherman using only hook &
line methods. They are naturally low in mercury by comparison with what
the international/large canneries commonly produce. The Albacore that
frequent these waters are less than 5 years in age and 20 to 25 pounds
which means they have not been in the water as long as the fish from
unsustainable regions that most other canneries process. Hence, less
mercury is stored in the meat of these younger fish we process making
our product a naturally better, safer choice for you and your family.
Product Testing
Our Low Mercury
Albacore Tuna has never exceeded .0024 ppm (parts per million) of
Methylmercury.
Approximately 1/4
of international/large canneries Albacore Tuna tested by the FDA has
Methylmercury levels of 1.0+ ppm.
Methylmercury
Facts
Methylmercury is
formed from mercury, a naturally occurring element found in soil, rocks,
lakes, streams and oceans. Mercury is also introduced into the
environment by man-made sources, such as manufacturing operations, many
coal burning plants and other pollutants. Mercury released into streams,
lakes and oceans can accumulate and undergo a natural chemical
transformation into methylmercury.
How does
methylmercury get into fish?
Most fish have
trace amounts of methylmercury that come from absorbing water and eating
aquatic organisms. Large predatory fish species, which feed on smaller
species and live longer lives, tend to accumulate higher levels of
methylmercury than non-predatory fish and species that are lower on the
food chain.
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