Measures Taken by the Commission to Combat Mercury Pollution Already Implemented

Measures Taken by the Commission to Combat Mercury Pollution Already Implemented

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Canned Tuna Mercury Scandal: Brussels Gathers to Tighten the Rules

© Richard Villalon/AdobeStock By Camille Harel Head of category/grocery distribution Published on

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A wave of alarming revelations has prompted Brussels to take action. On May 6, six months after NGOs Bloom and Foodwatch exposed mercury contamination in canned tuna, the European Commission has assembled member states in secret. The stated purpose for the meeting is to discuss "the necessity of the current maximum level for mercury in fresh tuna and a potential maximum level for mercury in canned tuna", as communicated in a letter from the European Commission to NGO Bloom dated April 8, 2025. In other words, they are contemplating tightening regulations on mercury.

Mercury, even ingested in minimal amounts, can cause severe developmental neurological problems in children and attack brain, cardiovascular, immune, renal, and reproductive functions in adults. Produced primarily by coal combustion and mining activities, this toxin is mainly present in the atmosphere in a gaseous form, eventually ending up in the oceans through precipitation. Presently, tuna, like swordfish or shark, serves as a top ocean predator that consumes already infected fish. As a result, tuna has mercury contamination ten times higher than smaller species.

30 Years of Outdated Tolerance Limit

Since 1993, the European Union has tolerated up to 1 mg of mercury per kilogram in fresh tuna. This threshold is more than three times higher than the limit set for other fresh fish species (0.3 mg/kg), a standard that NGOs consider careless. "A single weekly serving of tuna at this level poses a genuine health risk to anyone under 70 kg", Bloom cautions. The organization advocates lowering the allowed mercury contamination limits for tuna to 0.3 mg/kg and demanding France's stance on this issue be made public, in addition to requiring the minutes of Brussels meetings to be disclosed.

Petit Navire: A Revolution for Canned Tuna Taste In a report published in October by Bloom and Foodwatch, out of 148 cans of tuna analyzed across France, Germany, England, Spain, and Italy, 100% were contaminated with mercury. Approximately 10% were above the 1 mg/kg threshold that pertains to fresh tuna (there are currently no thresholds for canned tuna). The Petit Navire brand (Thai Union Frozen) drew particular criticism with a mercury content record of 3.9 mg/kg, which is 13 times higher than that of other fish species. However, the manufacturer is not the sole entity in the spotlight. Canned tuna products bearing store-brand labels like Carrefour and Lidl also showed high mercury levels.

Sales Losses Between 10 and 20% After the Scandal

Results: Canned tuna sales have declined by 10 to 20% between November 2024 and February 2025. Since then, uncertainty lingers among the 26 million consumer households. "Sales values are still down by 3.7% in March 2025 over the past 12 months", stated Alexis Jacquand, the General Director of Petit Navire, recently.

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While the participants' decisions in the May 6 Brussels debate have yet to be revealed, significant developments and regulatory context hint at potential outcomes:

1. The EFSA's role: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) remains essential for food safety assessments, including heavy metals in seafood[2]. This ongoing scrutiny could expedite EFSA’s reviews regarding heavy metals in canned products following events like the Réunion tuna summit[1].
2. Trade agreement pressures: The EU’s recent emphasis on sustainability[3] and health standards[4] may lead to:
3. Stricter import controls comparable to South Korea’s new e-certification system for traceability[5], which applies to mercury testing
4. Stricter labeling requirements for mercury content by species (e.g., differentiating light vs. albacore tuna)
5. Enforcement shifts: The WTO fisheries subsidies agreement[4] and digital certification trends[5] suggest a future with:
6. Mandatory blockchain-based tracking for mercury testing results
7. Real-time monitoring of mercury levels per catch zone, influencing harvest quotas

Notable Gap: Although the search results lack explicit details about mercury-specific measures from the May 6 debate, the convergence of trade digitization[5], climate-focused food policies[3], and recent food safety assurances[4] implies that mercury regulations could soon incorporate stronger supply-chain transparency mechanisms.

1. The European Commission, in response to concerns raised by NGOs about mercury contamination in canned tuna, has called for a meeting with member states to discuss potential maximum levels for mercury in canned tuna.
2. Mercury, a neurotoxin, can cause severe health problems in both children and adults, with tuna having ten times higher mercury contamination than smaller species due to its position as a top ocean predator.
3. The European Union currently tolerates up to 1 mg of mercury per kilogram in fresh tuna, a standard repeatedly criticized by NGOs as too lenient.
4. The results of a report published by Bloom and Foodwatch found that 100% of canned tuna analyzed across several countries were contaminated with mercury, with some brands, such as Petit Navire, having significantly higher levels.
5. Sales of canned tuna have decreased by 10 to 20% since the scandal, and uncertainty remains among consumers.
6. Eventually, potential outcomes of the May 6 Brussels debate could include stricter import controls and labeling requirements, mandatory blockchain-based tracking, and real-time monitoring of mercury levels, all aimed at improving supply-chain transparency and the health and wellness aspects of the food-and-drink industry, including the promotion of healthy diets and lifestyle choices.

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