Benefit and risk assessment of fish in the Norwegian diet - Scientific Opinion of the Steering Committee of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment

Abstract

In 2006, VKM published “A comprehensive assessment of fish and other seafood in the Norwegian diet”. The assessment supported the recommendation from Norwegian Health authorities to eat more fish both for dinner and on sandwiches. In an update of the assessment in 2014 VKM concluded that “the benefits from fish consumption clearly outweigh the negligible risk presented by current levels of contaminants and other undesirable substances in fish”. Because of new knowledge available, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority requested a new benefit and risk assessment of fish in the Norwegian diet in 2019. In the assignment, they asked VKM to answer the following questions:<p>

<p>Which health consequences will it have for the Norwegian population if they:<uli>

<li>Continue with the same fish consumption levels as of today</li> <li>Increase the consumption of fish to match the recommendations given by the Norwegian Directorate of Health</li> </uli>