Despite warnings: pregnant women are allowed to eat fish

In May 1999,the Bundesinstitut fur gesundheitlichen Verbraucher-schutz und Veterinarmedizin (BgVV) (Federal Institute of consumer health protection an d veterinary medicine) recommended that pregnant women should nor consume c ertain species of fish because of neurotoxic effects of methyl mercury on t he development of the fetal brain. Evaluation of two studies not mentioned in the BgVV's warning has shown, however, that, from the toxicological poin t of view, there is no reason to restrict the recommendation by the German Society for Nutrition advising pregnant women in Central Europe to eat one to two fish meals per week.