To sea or not to sea: Benefits and risks of gestational fish consumption

Prenatal nutritional status and the gestational environmental milieu have increasingly been identified as major determinants of long-term morbidity and mortality for the developing child. While omega-3 fatty acids – found abundantly in fish – are required for normal fetal development as well as for optimal maternal outcome, recent public health warnings to limit some types of seafood intake because of potential contamination with chemical toxicants have resulted in a dilemma for prenatal educators and maternity care providers. This paper reviews the benefits and harms of gestational seafood consumption and provides practical recommendations to address this important public health dilemma.