The purpose of the project was to analyse the risk-benefit aspects of the Baltic herring caught in the Bothnian Sea and consumed by Finnish people as food. The analysis was based both on the known levels of harmful compounds, dioxins and PCB in Baltic herring and on the most important nutrients, fats, fatty acids and vitamin D contained in the fish. The consumption of Baltic herring was also studied in the project through a survey. Particular attention was paid to special groups, especially children and high-level consumers.
When the consumption of herring in the various consumer groups is known, it is possible to calculate both the intake of measured nutrients and the exposure to environmental contaminants as a result of eating herring, and to draw conclusions of the benefits gained from the nutritional content of the herring compared with the adverse effects of contaminants.
Research team
Anja Hallikainen, leader of the project, Senior Researcher, Evira
Tiina Putkonen, Senior Researcher, and Tiina Ritvanen and Mervi Rokka, Researchers, Evira
Jouni Tuomisto, Senior Researcher, leader of risk-benefit analysis, National Institute for Health and Welfare
Anu Turunen and Sari Ung-Lanki, Researchers, National Institute for Health and Welfare
Laura Hiltunen, Coordinator of National Institute for Health and Welfare
Hannu Kiviranta, Unit Manager, National Institute for Health and Welfare
Pekka Vuorinen, Senior Research Scientist, Natural Resources Institute Finland
Schedule
2013 - 2014
Project funding and cooperation partners
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Evira, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Taloustutkimus Oy