Conflicting advice on pregnancy, fish

Pregnant women risk missing significant nutritional benefits by following a U.S. government advisory to limit their consumption of fish, a group of medical experts said Thursday.

The new recommendation conflicts with guidelines issued by the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, warning pregnant women to eat no more than 12 ounces of certain types of fish because of traces of mercury that may harm an unborn baby.

The Maternal Nutrition Group -- a panel of 14 obstetricians and nutritionists from universities around the country -- urged women who are pregnant, want to become pregnant or are breast-feeding to eat a minimum of 12 ounces per week of fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel. The recommendation was issued in partnership with the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, whose members include the March of Dimes and the American Public Health Assn.

-- Theo Milonopoulos