The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
Michigan releases 2018 Eat Safe Fish Guides to help residents learn about local fish
May 01, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2018
CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is pleased to announce the release of the 2018 regional Eat Safe Fish Guides. These guides can help residents plan their fish meals to ensure they are minimizing exposure to chemicals that can build up in fish, while still getting all of the health benefits eating fish provides.
“The guide essentially provides a nutrition label for chemicals in locally-caught fish,” said Nick Lyon, director at MDHHS. “The Eat Safe Fish Guides are easy to use and important resources that help families in Michigan consume fish safely.”
MDHHS only tests the portions of fish that people eat – typically the filets. The results from the state laboratory are used to determine what is safe for people to consume over the long-term. There are many health benefits to eating fish, and the Eat Safe Fish Guides help individuals choose the fish that are best for them and their families.
Unlike the Michigan Department of Natural Resource’s Michigan Fishing Guide, the MDHHS Eat Safe Fish Guides are not laws or regulations and no one is required to use them. Instead, the guides are a free resource for Michigan residents who would like information regarding what fish and how much is healthy to consume from various bodies of water across the state.
Chemicals in fish are a worldwide problem that is not limited to Michigan and other Great Lakes states, but it is important to note that fish from some areas in Michigan are more contaminated than others. By using the Eat Safe Fish Guides, Michigan fish consumers can be confident that they are making informed choices about eating the fish they catch from their local lake or river.
The chemicals most commonly found in fish are mercury and PCBs, however; the State of Michigan is working to address contamination at sites around the state related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). For a complete listing of PFAS contamination in fish, visit Michigan.gov/pfasresponse. All updated guidelines provided to-date are included in the 2018 regional Eat Safe Fish Guides.
In addition to the Eat Safe Fish Guides, MDHHS also produces the Buy Safe Fish Guide to help residents choose seafood that is lower in mercury from local grocery stores, fish markets, and restaurants. The Buy Safe Fish Guide is available online at Michigan.gov/eatsafefish.
For more information on how to buy, eat or prepare safe fish, or to view the 2018 Eat Safe Fish Guide for your region, visit Michigan.gov/eatsafefish or call 800-648-6942.
# # #