Has Anyone Died from Eating Too Much Tuna?

Tuna is a popular and affordable source of protein that many people eat on a regular basis. With its health benefits and convenience, tuna seems like a smart choice. But some consumers are left wondering – can you actually eat too much tuna to the point of endangering your health? Has overconsumption of tuna ever been fatal?

This article will take a science-based look at the potential risks of eating large amounts of tuna and if excess consumption has ever directly caused death. We’ll also provide tips for safely incorporating tuna into a balanced diet.

Why Too Much Tuna Raises Health Concerns

Tuna contains a compound called methylmercury that can accumulate in the body over time. Methylmercury is a neurotoxin that is formed when mercury in the environment is absorbed by aquatic organisms.

Larger, predatory fish like tuna tend to have higher mercury levels since they consume many smaller fish over their lifespan. When we eat tuna, that methylmercury gets passed on to us.

In small doses occasionally, methylmercury is not harmful. But regularly eating very high amounts of tuna could potentially cause mercury levels in the body to rise to toxic levels over months or years.

Symptoms of severe mercury poisoning include sensory impairment, lack of coordination, and tremors Exposure in pregnant women can also impair fetal brain and nervous system development

However there are no documented cases of anyone dying solely from consuming ordinary canned tuna, even in very high amounts. The level of methylmercury in typical tuna is generally not high enough to be acutely fatal.

But that doesn’t mean eating buckets of tuna daily comes without risk.

Methylmercury Toxicity from Seafood Consumption

While no deaths have been directly traced back to simple tuna consumption, there are cases of humans suffering mercury poisoning from consuming excessive amounts of predatory fish over long periods.

In the 1960s and 70s, methylmercury toxicity disabled and killed some individuals in Japan and Iraq

In Japan, mercury-containing industrial waste water had flowed into Minamata Bay and concentrated in fish and shellfish. Locals who consumed large amounts of contaminated seafood suffered what became known as “Minamata Disease.”

In Iraq, wheat treated with a mercury-containing fungicide was used to make bread. This bread was then eaten in large quantities for months, causing some deaths.

These situations involved very high exposures over long periods combined with other environmental and dietary factors.

Isolated consumption of store-bought canned tuna alone has not caused any known deaths. But the cases in Japan and Iraq demonstrate how dangerous methylmercury can become under the right conditions.

How Much Tuna Is Safe To Eat?

We know it’s possible to overdo tuna intake to an unsafe level. So how much canned tuna can you eat before raising health concerns?

According to the FDA, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consume no more than 3 to 6 ounces of canned tuna per week. Children can have slightly more.

For adults who are not pregnant, up to 12 ounces per week is considered a safe level by most health authorities. Spreading consumption over several smaller meals is ideal.

Some advocacy groups like the Environmental Working Group argue even 12 ounces per week may be excessive, especially for women of childbearing age. To be extra cautious, limiting tuna to once or twice per week is recommended.

Signs You May Be Eating Too Much Tuna

Keep in mind, mercury buildup happens slowly over a long period of time. Most people who eat tuna in moderation are not at risk.

However, consistently consuming more than the recommended safe amounts could result in the following symptoms:

• Numbness or tingling in fingers and toes
• Lack of coordination and difficulty walking
• Impaired speech, vision, or hearing
• Memory problems or cognitive decline
• Muscle weakness
• High blood pressure

If you regularly eat very large amounts of tuna and experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Ceasing tuna consumption and receiving chelation therapy can treat mercury poisoning.

Tips for Safely Enjoying Tuna

To summarize, no recorded deaths have been directly caused by ordinary canned tuna alone. But it is possible to consume unsafe amounts, especially over long periods. Follow these tips to safely incorporate tuna into a healthy diet:

• Choose lower-mercury tuna like skipjack (“light”) over albacore (“white”) tuna
• Eat no more than 3 to 6 oz tuna per week if pregnant
• Limit tuna to 12 oz or under per week if not pregnant
• Include a variety of low-mercury fish like salmon and sardines
• Avoid additional environmental mercury sources like some skin creams or medications
• Spread consumption throughout the week instead of all at once

Tuna is very healthy in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Just be mindful of dietary guidelines and maximum recommended intake to avoid potential toxicity.

With some simple precautions, tuna can be safely enjoyed as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. Limiting your intake to safer levels lets you reap the nutritional benefits of tuna without risking the detrimental impacts of methylmercury overexposure.