The 12 Most Contaminated Fish to Avoid in the Supermarket

4. Sharks
: Similar to swordfish, sharks contain dangerous amounts of mercury and other toxins such as arsenic. Regular consumption of shark meat can increase the risk of heavy metal poisoning.

5. King mackerel

King mackerel is on the list of prohibited fish by almost all health authorities due to its high mercury content. It is particularly dangerous for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

6. Tile fish (Gulf of Mexico)
The tile fish from the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most mercury-contaminated fish. It is often recommended to avoid it completely, especially if you have health intolerances.

7. Imported catfish:
Much of the catfish sold in the supermarket is imported from countries with lax food safety regulations. These fish are sometimes treated with antibiotics, which are banned in the U.S., and can contain pollutants from polluted water.

8. Chilean sea bass Chilean
sea bass is known for its buttery consistency, but it is also notorious for its mercury enrichment. It is overfished and much of the sea bass on the market is caught illegally or is mislabelled.

9. Bluefin tuna

Bluefin tuna is in danger of extinction, but it is still offered in luxury markets. It contains an extremely high amount of mercury and is therefore a poor choice for health despite its popularity.

10. Eel (Unagi)
Eels, especially freshwater eels, absorb pollutants from their environment. Studies have found high concentrations of PCBs and flame retardants in eel meat.

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