Fish is often considered a healthy and nutritious food choice, but did you know that not all fish are safe to eat? Some types of fish are contaminated with high levels of mercury, dangerous toxins, or unsustainable fishing practices that harm the environment.
Before you order seafood at a restaurant or buy fish at the grocery store, check this list of the top 14 fish you should avoid!
1. Swordfish
🚫 Why Avoid It?
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Extremely high mercury levels, which can cause neurological issues.
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Large predatory fish accumulate more toxins.
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Not recommended for pregnant women and children.
2. Shark
🚫 Why Avoid It?
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One of the highest mercury concentrations in seafood.
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Overfished and vital to the marine ecosystem.
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Can be harmful to human health when consumed regularly.
3. King Mackerel
🚫 Why Avoid It?
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Mercury overload—not safe for regular consumption.
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Some species are unsustainably fished.
4. Orange Roughy
🚫 Why Avoid It?
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Lives up to 150 years, meaning it accumulates high toxin levels.
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Overfished due to its slow reproduction rate.
5. Tilefish (Especially from the Gulf of Mexico)
🚫 Why Avoid It?
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Highest mercury levels among commonly consumed fish.
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Often contains industrial pollutants.
6. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
🚫 Why Avoid It?
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Critically endangered species due to overfishing.
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Loaded with mercury and harmful for frequent consumption.
7. Chilean Sea Bass (Patagonian Toothfish)
🚫 Why Avoid It?
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Overfished, leading to population decline.
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Often contains high mercury levels.
8. Eel (Unagi and European Eel)
🚫 Why Avoid It?
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Highly contaminated with PCBs and mercury.
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Endangered due to overfishing.
9. Farmed Salmon (Atlantic Salmon)
🚫 Why Avoid It?
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