Fish is recommended food and consumption of fish should be increased. Fish contains healthy fatty acids, several vitamins and minerals and a lot of protein. Fish is a particularly good source of n-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. The useful fatty acids contained in fish have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The National Nutrition Council recommends that
- fish should be eaten at least twice a week
- different fish species should be varied in the diet.
Exceptions to dietary advice on fish consumption [1]
Despite the favourable nutritional qualities of fish, eating fish caught in the Baltic Sea, especially salmon, trout, river lamprey, smelt and herring, may subject consumers to higher than normal levels of PFAS compounds and dioxins, which are harmful to health. Also, higher than normal levels of methylmercury can be derived from predatory fish, particularly pike, caught in inland waters, but also from pike caught in the sea. The older the fish, the more contaminants will have accumulated in it.
For these reasons the Finnish Food Authority has issued the following exceptions to the general dietary advice on fish consumption:
Entire population
- Everyone who eats fish caught from inland waters on a daily basis should prefer species other than pike, large perch, pikeperch and burbot, that are predatory fish in which mercury accumulates.
- Regionally, it may be necessary to avoid the extensive use of predatory fish due to higher-than-normal mercury concentrations.
Under school-age children
Farmed fish and roach caught from inland waters may be eaten without restriction.
Fish from the Baltic Sea
- 1-2 times a month: Trout, pikeperch, bream, European whitefish, perch, pike or vendace. Vary the species of fish.
- Once every two months: Wild salmon, river lamprey or large Baltic herring of more than 19 cm when ungutted.
- A couple of times a year: Smelt
Inland fish
- Once a week: Pikeperch, bream, European whitefish, perch or pike. Vary the species of fish.
- 2 times a month: Smelt, vendace
Women who are at their peak reproductive age, pregnant or breastfeeding
Farmed fish and roach caught from inland waters may be eaten without restriction.
Fish from the Baltic Sea
- 3-4 times a month: Pikeperch, bream, European whitefish, perch, pike or vendace. Vary the species of fish.
- Once every two months: Wild salmon, trout, river lamprey or large Baltic herring of more than 19 cm when ungutted.
- A couple of times a year: Smelt
Inland fish
- Up to 2 times a week: Pikeperch, bream, European whitefish, perch, pike or vendace. Vary the species of fish.
- 2 times a month: Smelt
Exceptions include waterbodies in which higher-than-normal concentrations of mercury, PFAS or other contaminants have been measured. In such cases, local authorities will make more specific recommendations on possible regional restrictions.
Fish contaminants and consumption restrictions
The purpose of dietary advice is to ensure the safe consumption of fish. The advice is related to PFAS compounds, dioxins, PCB compounds and mercury contained in fish. In the past, caesium-137 has also been considered, but no new information on its concentration was available at the time of the 2024 update. The safety assessments are based on a fish portion size of 100 g for adults and 50 g for children. If the portion eaten is smaller, fish can be eaten more often.
Finnish Environment Institute has published maps of the chemical status of inland waters. They allow consumers to consider whether there is a need to restrict the use of fish in their local water body. Local food authorities can issue more detailed regional guidance on fish use if necessary.
[1] Recommendation issued by the Finnish Food Authority based on contaminant levels.