Eating fish is really bad for you

Question

PETA article excerpt (claim bolded):

Is fish good for you? “Seafood” sellers have been hard at work trying to convince us that it is, but fatty, chemical-laden fish flesh is just as bad for your health as eating other animals. Here are seven reasons why eating tuna, salmon, swordfish, shrimp, and other seafood is just as bad for you as it is for them.

Comments

I think the abstract, opinion-based language of your claim may make it harder to verify. Rather than positing that eating fish is "really bad for you," you might re-word it to something more concretely verifiable, such as "Eating fish leads to a buildup of mercury in the human body." A claim like that would be easier to fact-check and determine the reliability of!

---

Although the article gives some great points on why fish is bad for you, such as mercury, harmful chemicals, and bacteria. This article leaves out a lot of great points that fish actually can be beneficial to you as well. Also, to be more likely to get sick from fish you would need to eat large amounts.

---

I think the way the claim is phrased is misleading. Looking at the article, the author isn't claiming that fish is unhealthy, but rather that it's difficult to confirm that fish haven't been drugged with harmful chemicals or that they don't contain mercury. In actuality, fish cna be good for you, but there could be contaminants that have adverse affects. So it's not that eating fish is really bad for you, but actually that fish are often contaminated with harmful chemicals that are bad for you.

---

I agree with how you phrase this. I think that re wording is essential to understanding this article actually means. I do believe that looking into other trusted sources would have helped a lot, because then people could get different takes from different people/groups.

Answer 1

Mercury contamination is no joke, and its not the only pollutant out in the water with the rest of the sea creatures. According to our government, "Fish is filled with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins such as D and B2 (riboflavin). Fish is rich in calcium and phosphorus and a great source of minerals, such as iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least two times per week as part of a healthy diet" (source). The FDA has a list here of the precise mercury levels from 1991-2009. Your source isn't the most reliable due to its stance on the consumption of any animal and the advertisement for the article viewers to "pledge to go vegan".

Comments

The factcheck of this claim was done in a very proper fashion of utilizing alternate resources of high validity with minimal bias. I especially second the fact that the original claim was made based off of the website PETA, which has the agenda and mission of influencing people to go vegan, greatly introducing bias into the claim and article.

---

This factcheck does a good job in providing background information about the effects of mercury from a reliable government as well as reflecting the bias that an animal advocacy group like PETA would have in disseminating info that would lead people to stop fish consumption.

Answer 2

I do not think that this article would be considered misinformation as there are other claims that back up the potential risks that eating fish can have (Stay Healthy by Eating Fish and Shellfish Wisely). They do bring up some important points about mercury levels and the fact that fish can take in harmful chemicals that may be in the waters they live in (Benefits and Risks of Eating Fish). However, they do not discuss the other side of the argument that proves that eating fish can also have health benefits. It is also important to take into consideration that this article is coming directly from PETA, an organization that heavily promotes veganism and avoiding any sort of harm to animals. Because of this, their article is riddled with guilt trips about how important fish are to the ecosystem, stating facts about their lifestyles to bring them to life more for the reader and make them question their decisions to ever eat fish again. It is a very heavily and clearly biased article, which may skew their claims too far in one direction.

Comments

This is a great fact check, as it's true that there are notable health concerns with eating certain fish species, especially too frequently. It's important you mentioned the source of this article, and gave context as to how and why PETA may present a biased and skewed article.

Answer 3

I found this article to be fairly unrealistic. Although it gives few good statements about how contaminated fish can cause health issues, this is a very small category. In an article from the HEALTHLINE, Joe Leech, a journalistic dietitian writes about all of the positive benefits of eating fish!

Comments

While I agree that the main article linked is biased and misleading, I wonder if the same could be said about the article by Joe Leech you referenced. I wasn't able to find the article in your comment, but think if you added it your post would be stronger.

Answer 4

If one were to eat fish in extreme quantities, it would cause heightened risk of mercury poisoning, as well as buildup of other contaminants, which in particular are harmful to older people and individuals with health risks. However, when eaten in moderation, fish can provide an important source of protein and other nutrients:

https://www.epa.gov/choose-fish-and-shellfish-wisely/should-i-be-concerned-about-eating-fish-and-shellfish

Answer 5

Fish is high in omega 3's, fatty acids and is packed with protein. Eating fish is linked to a reduced risk of heart diseases and strokes, according to the Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/omega-3/art-20045614#:~:text=If%20you're%20worried%20about,of%20protein%2C%20vitamins%20and%20minerals). However, if fish is contaminated with mercury, it can harm your nervous system and brain health. This claim is false, as fish in general is a very healthy food, but if it is contaminated with mercury it becomes unhealthy. 

Answer 6

Eating fish is great for one's health, primarily due to its rich content of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to improved heart health and reduced inflammation. Fish is also an excellent source of high-quality protein. Regular consumption of fish has been associated with lower risks of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and stroke. Fish is typically low in saturated fat and calories, making it a great option for maintaining a healthy weight, as emphasized in the USDA Dietary Guidelines. Overall, incorporating fish into your diet can significantly contribute to well-being and nutritional balance.

https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/protein-foods