National Seafood Month and Seafood Safety

October is National Seafood Month! Whether you prefer salmon, cod, shrimp, halibut, sole, crab, or oysters, remember, they’re all delicious, sustainable and good for you.

National #SeafoodMonth is a time to highlight smart seafood choices, sustainable fisheries, and following basic food safety tips for buying, preparing, and storing fish and shellfish – to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

NOAA Fisheries and Sustainable Seafood

The seafood caught and farmed in the United States comes from some of the most sustainably managed fisheries in the world.

NOAA Fisheries, which monitors and enforces marine fisheries within 4.4 million square miles and 95,000 coastland miles in the United States. They report U.S. fisheries are some of “the largest and most valuable in the world, supplying about a fifth of the seafood we eat in the United States.”

Maintaining a safe seafood product requires caring for the product from the time it is caught until it is consumed; that responsibility doesn’t end at the point of sale. Local, state and federal food safety regulations require that fishermen – just like others in the seafood supply chain – be aware of and use proper handling and storage practices to ensure a safe product.

To learn more about seafood, check out FishWatch.gov—the nation’s database on sustainable seafood—providing science-based facts on more than 100 marine species.

Seafood Safe Cooking Temperature

Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthful diet. In fact, a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children’s growth and development. But, as with any type of food, it’s important to handle seafood safely in order to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Food Safe Fact: The safe internal temperature for cooked fish is 145°F, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

When cooking fish, cook it until the center reaches 145°F on an instant-read or meat thermometer. Another easy way to tell without even using a thermometer is cutting the piece of fish in the thickest part and looking at the texture. The fish should be opaque (not translucent like when it’s raw) and break easily into flakes when you nudge it with a fork.

Selecting and Serving Seafood Safely

Eating Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know

The FDA and EPA have issued advice regarding eating fish. This advice is geared toward helping women who are pregnant or may become pregnant – as well as breastfeeding mothers and parents of young children – make informed choices when it comes to fish that is healthy and safe to eat.

For women of childbearing age (about 16-49 years old), especially pregnant and breastfeeding women, and for parents and caregivers of young children.

• Eat 2 to 3 servings of fish a week from the “Best Choice” list OR 1 serving from the “Good Choice” list.
• Eat a variety of fish.
• Serve 1 to 2 servings of fish a week to children, starting at age 2.
• If you eat fish caught by family or friends, check for fish advisories. If there is no advisory, eat only one serving and no other fish that week.*

You can use this chart to help you choose which fish to eat, and how often to eat them, based on their mercury levels. The “Best Choice” have the lowest levels of mercury.

Eating Raw Seafood – What You Need To Know

It’s always best to cook seafood thoroughly to minimize the risk of foodborne illness. However, if you choose to eat raw fish anyway, one rule of thumb is to eat fish that has been previously frozen.

• Some species of fish can contain parasites, and freezing will kill any parasites that may be present.
• However, be aware that freezing doesn’t kill all harmful microorganisms. That’s why the safest route is to cook your seafood.

An Important Note About Oysters:
Some oysters are treated for safety after they are harvested. That information may or may not be on the label. However, these oysters should still not be eaten raw by people at risk for foodborne illness. The post-harvest treatment eliminates some naturally occurring pathogens, but it does not remove all pathogens that can cause illness.

 

Additional Seafood Sustainablitity and Safety Resources

• NOAA Fisheries – NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of the nation’s ocean resources and their habitat.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium – The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program helps consumers and businesses make choices for a healthy ocean.
• Mercury in Seafood – What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish (FDA) – Advice for pregnant women (and those thinking about pregnancy), nursing mothers, and young children.
• Risks of Eating Raw Oysters – Raw Oyster Myths (FDA) – Hot sauce does not kill harmful bacteria in raw oysters; neither does alcohol. Get the facts behind the myths.
• Raw Oysters Contaminated With Vibrio vulnificus Can Cause Illness and Death (FDA) – Explains the risks associated with eating raw oysters and how to prevent serious illness.
• General Information on Seafood – Fresh and Frozen Seafood: Selecting and Serving it Safely (FDA) – How to handle seafood safely in order to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
• Cooperative Program Ensures Safe Shellfish (FDA)
  How industry and government work together to keep shellfish safe.
  See the slideshow or read the article

Audience: Fishermen, seafood processors, packers, importers, and retailers, seafood safety inspectors, health professionals, and students interested in seafood careers – who are responsible for handling and keeping seafood products safe for customers.