GREEN & SUSTAINABLE

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Green Choices: Seafood Buyer's Guide

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Safe Harbor label: What does it mean?

Safe Harbor

All fish sold in the U.S. should contain less than the Food and Drug Administration’s safe methylmercury limit of 1 ppm, but not every fish is analyzed. Seafood with this label has been tested for mercury levels and has met Safe Harbor’s standard for that specific species—a threshold that’s lower than the FDA’s 1 ppm “action level” and the average mercury content level for that type of fish.

• Eco-benefits: Reduced exposure to mercury, which may harm an unborn baby or young child’s developing nervous system.
• Is it regulated? Yes. Only fish that have been tested for mercury and meet the standards get the stamp.
• Keep in mind: The label does not necessarily mean that the fish you’re buying is low in mercury; it just means it’s lower than average for that species. For example, it’s prudent for pregnant women to avoid all swordfish (which is very high in mercury)—even that which bears the Safe Harbor seal.

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More seafood labels

• Marine Stewardship Council
• Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)

Learn more

• The Wild Salmon Debate: A fresh look at farmed vs. wild
• Seafood Buyer's Guide