U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) is among those praising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new draft guidance advising pregnant women to eat two to three servings per week of a variety of fish. The measure is “a good first step” toward providing pregnant women with clear advice based on the most up-to-date science, according to Landrieu.
“The latest research shows that seafood rich in Omega 3 and other nutrients improves brain and eye developments in unborn children,” Landrieu said. “I will continue working with doctors and other health professionals during the comment period to ensure this guidance is issued in a way that helps pregnant women feel empowered to make the most informed decisions about nutrition during their pregnancy.”
The FDA guidance will likely increase demand for seafood from Gulf fishermen, as well as from those all over the U.S. “Louisiana fishermen and shrimpers are major contributors of healthy and safe seafood products every year. The guidance…highlights the benefits of consuming seafood and will only boost the thriving seafood industry along the Gulf coast,” Landrieu told SeafoodSource.
Last year, Sen. Landrieu led 21 Senators in sending a bipartisan letter to President Barack Obama, urging his administration to end years of delays and finalize the updated FDA seafood advisory for pregnant women. Sen. Landrieu has also worked to include language in appropriations legislation urging the administration to update its guidelines.
“The guidance issued by the FDA is a good first step toward educating pregnant women in a clear and simple way about the benefits of including seafood in their diet,” Landrieu said.
The Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI) will also work with Landrieu to ensure that the proper language is included in FDA’s final guidance. “The Gulf coast is the nation's leading producer of so many healthful seafood products, including soft shell crab, shrimp and oysters. With fish being such a strong part of our culture, the Gulf seafood community understands inherently the value of seafood to a young mother's diet,” said Margaret Henderson, GSI interim executive director. “Sadly, that health message doesn't always translate to the greater population.Over the next 30 days, the FDA will take comments from the public on the proposed guidelines before finalizing them.
