Is Something Fishy About the Recommendation to Eat More Tuna?

Is Something Fishy About the Recommendation to Eat More Tuna?

The New York Times story by Marian Burros outlines the actions of a children’s health coalition, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, that went against government warnings that eating more than 12 ounces of fish a week can be harmful to women of child-bearing age because of the mercury contamination risks associated with it. The coalition accepted money from the National Fisheries Institute. Other organizations and individuals see that as a conflict of interest, and they are right.

This type of behavior can hurt the credibility of an organization and make their findings appear suspect. Personally, I think it is unethical and is also somewhat exploitive of pregnant women – that sector of the consumer population most effected – and very likely bewildered – by these conflicting findings.

The coalition should never have accepted the financial gift. There is another name for this type of conduct and it’s called graft, which is how far too many organizations in Mexico and Russia conduct business.

I should think that the coalition cares a great deal about it is perceived, and if so, then the ethical thing to do would be to return the money and work hard to restore what I would think would be a tarnished reputation.