Advice About Eating Fish — FDA/EPA Joint Federal Advisory
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · 2022 · Federal Advisory (FDA/EPA Joint)
“Sardines are listed on the FDA/EPA 'Best Choices' fish category — recommended 2 to 3 servings per week, including for pregnant women and children.”
Summary
The FDA and EPA jointly publish dietary fish-consumption guidance for the U.S. public, including specific advisory recommendations for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, women of childbearing age, and young children. Fish species are categorized into "Best Choices" (eat 2–3 servings per week), "Good Choices" (eat 1 serving per week), and "Choices to Avoid" (do not eat — high methylmercury). Sardines appear in the "Best Choices" category alongside anchovies, salmon, herring, and other small-pelagic species. The advisory provides the species-by-species mercury-content basis for these recommendations and includes guidance on portion sizing for adults and children. The 2022 update reflects ongoing review of mercury data, omega-3 dietary modeling, and population-health evidence on fish consumption patterns.
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Tags
Not medical advice. This page summarizes primary research. It is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified clinician. See safety for exclusion criteria.