A recent federal guideline classifies has classified fish into three categories of safety. This is to aid women who are pregnant, mothers who are breastfeeding and parents of young children in making wise and healthy choices for them and their families.

Classification Or Guidelines On Fish Choices

The guideline sorted out 62 types of fish and shellfish and further categorized them into 3 choices.

1. Best Choices- should be eaten two to three servings per week
2. Good Choices- should be eaten one serving per week
3. Fish to avoid

Around 90 percent of fish in the U.S. market available for food consumption, are classified under the Best Choices category, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The FDA further confirmed that 50 percent of pregnant women prefer to eat 2 ounces or less of fish per week, which is even less than the recommended amount.

In fact, fish promises the benefits essential to growth and development during pregnancy and early adulthood, FDA added.

Two to three servings of low-mercury fish per week (8-12 ounces in total) is recommended by FDA and EPA. 12 ounces is actually the maximum weekly consumption recommended, as stated in the guidelines. These are the same values mentioned in previous recommendations as well as in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The Best Choices category include low-mercury fish and shellfish. It also includes shrimp, salmon, pollock, canned light tuna, tilapia, catfish and cod.

FDA And EPA Recommendations

Specifically, FDA and EPA recommends a single serving of fish, from the Good Choices, at least once per week. The recommendation includes bluefish, grouper, halibut, tilefish from the Atlantic Ocean, and albacore white tuna (canned, fresh or frozen).

The normal serving for a full grown adult is 4 ounces prior to cooking. Children may have varying serving sizes depending on their age and size. Ideally the serving size for younger individuals should be smaller and adjusted to their age and total caloric daily need. According to the guideline. children shout a various types of fish once or twice a week.

"Fish are an important source of protein and other nutrients for young children and women who are or may become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. This advice clearly shows the great diversity of fish in the U.S. market that they can consume safely," confirmed Dr. Stephen Ostroff, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine. "This new, clear and concrete advice is an excellent tool for making safe and healthy choices when buying fish," he added