Will WIC Can Tuna?

A number of health advocacy groups have urged the USDA to remove canned tuna from its Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC saying the inclusion of tuna exposes breastfeeding mothers and their nursing infants to methylmercury when safer fish options exist. Though the agency plans to end an allowance for canned albacore tuna under the program, it may still offer light tuna, which critics say also can contain enough mercury to cause health effects. A 2005 Institute of Medicine review of the WIC program recommends offering canned salmon, which has far less mercury than tuna and costs only about 2¢ more per ounce. Over 250,000 women exclusively breastfeed as part of WIC and canned tuna is offered as an incentive to those mothers who make this commitment. More than 8 million low-income mothers and their children receive WIC assistance each month. A final decision on tuna's inclusion is expected in September 2007.