Insights into Food Safety and Misconceptions about Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation

Sühendan Mol

Insights into Food Safety and Misconceptions about Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation

Abstract

Seafood provides high-quality protein, essential amino acids, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, selenium, choline, and a range of vitamins and minerals. These nutrients make seafood particularly valuable during pregnancy and lactation. However, concerns about methylmercury, other toxic elements, parasites, pathogenic microorganisms, biotoxins, and microplastics may lead women to restrict or completely avoid seafood. This review examines the nutritional benefits of seafood for maternal and child health, evidence-based food safety risks and their control, and how scientifically unsupported beliefs shape consumption behavior. The level of food safety risk varies with the species and source of the seafood, the area in which it was caught or farmed, the amount consumed, and the method of preparation. Hazards associated with a particular species or production condition should therefore not be generalized to all seafood. Potential risks can be reduced by selecting a variety of species considered safe for consumption based on their methylmercury levels, obtaining seafood from traceable sources, following recommended portion sizes and consumption frequencies, and cooking seafood thoroughly. Conversely, cultural food taboos, misconceptions, and confusing guidance that emphasizes potential risks without clearly identifying safe choices may lead pregnant and breastfeeding women to avoid seafood that could otherwise be consumed safely. Health professionals should communicate both the benefits and the genuine risks of seafood through clear and practical guidance. Regular monitoring of fishing grounds and aquaculture sites, together with timely and transparent public reporting, is also essential. Overall, a balanced risk–benefit approach can help meet the nutritional needs of mothers and infants while minimizing food safety risks.

Keywords

Risk communication, Maternal nutrition, Seafood, Food safety, Food taboos, Risk–benefit assessment

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Food Sciences (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sühendan Mol ^*
0000-0003-3831-5107
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

October 27, 2026

Publication Date

October 29, 2026

Submission Date

August 31, 2026

Acceptance Date

October 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 1 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA72NZ97PK

APA

Mol, S. (2026). Insights into Food Safety and Misconceptions about Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation. Food Science Insights, 1(2), 86-99. https://izlik.org/JA72NZ97PK

AMA

1.Mol S. Insights into Food Safety and Misconceptions about Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation. Food Science Insights. 2026;1(2):86-99. https://izlik.org/JA72NZ97PK

Chicago

Mol, Sühendan. 2026. “Insights into Food Safety and Misconceptions about Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation”. Food Science Insights 1 (2): 86-99. https://izlik.org/JA72NZ97PK.

EndNote

Mol S (October 1, 2026) Insights into Food Safety and Misconceptions about Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation. Food Science Insights 1 2 86–99.

IEEE

[1]S. Mol, “Insights into Food Safety and Misconceptions about Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation”, Food Science Insights, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 86–99, Oct. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA72NZ97PK

ISNAD

Mol, Sühendan. “Insights into Food Safety and Misconceptions about Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation”. Food Science Insights 1/2 (October 1, 2026): 86-99. https://izlik.org/JA72NZ97PK.

JAMA

1.Mol S. Insights into Food Safety and Misconceptions about Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation. Food Science Insights. 2026;1:86–99.

MLA

Mol, Sühendan. “Insights into Food Safety and Misconceptions about Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation”. Food Science Insights, vol. 1, no. 2, Oct. 2026, pp. 86-99, https://izlik.org/JA72NZ97PK.

Vancouver

1.Sühendan Mol. Insights into Food Safety and Misconceptions about Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation. Food Science Insights [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 1;1(2):86-99. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA72NZ97PK