I have been advised not to eat Tuna and other fish if I want to get pregnant. Why?

Certain fish and fish products contain high levels of mercury. Exposure to mercury could be dangerous to the developing foetus as it has been found to affect the development of the nervous system. Fish such as Shark, Swordfish and Marlin are the main fish to avoid. Tuna does contain mercury but small amounts of tuna are safe to eat. The UK Food Standards Agency recommends not to eat more than four medium-sized cans or two fresh tuna steaks per week.

Overall - Don’t forget: Fish is still a very important part of your diet so you could try eating an alternative to tuna such as mackerel, herring, pilchards, sardines, trout or salmon.