AOAC-Certified Mercury Testing Technology
Why We Test Every Fish
Mercury levels can vary widely between fish of the same size, school, and location — a variability documented by NOAA’s NCCOS in its “Mercury Hot Spots and Bioaccumulation in Fish” research.1 Batch testing cannot catch these spikes, which is why Safe Catch tests every single tuna and salmon to strict mercury limits.
To date, we have tested more than 12 million fish, and about one in four tuna do not meet our purity standards.
Safe Catch is the only brand that tests every single tuna and salmon for mercury. Our tuna testing has been witnessed by SGS,
a global leader in testing and certification.
The Better Technology We Invented
Traditional FDA laboratory methods, such as ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry), are highly accurate but require a laboratory setting, extensive sample preparation,2 and typically cost $50–$100 or more per test.
To make preventative testing scalable, co-founder Sean Wittenberg worked with a team of researchers to pioneer a proprietary, AOAC-validated mercury-testing technology that is 250× faster than traditional ICP-MS laboratory analysis.
This technology analyzes a tissue sample about the size of a grain of rice and delivers precise mercury concentrations in seconds, enabling Safe Catch to screen fish rapidly and far more cost-effectively than traditional lab methods.3
Revolutionary Tech Innovation
250X
Testing Speed Advantage
12
Patents Pending
Heavy Metals + | Safe Catch | Private Labs |
|---|---|---|
Operating Principal | Proprietary | CVAA & ICP-MS |
Results | Seconds | 5 Days |
Cost Per Test | – – – | $100 |
Limited Labor | ||
Automaton Software | ||
Sampling System | ||
Extreme Environments | ||
Validation (EU, US, Labs, AOAC) |
AOAC-Certified & Independently Validated
Safe Catch’s mercury-testing technology is certified by the AOAC Research Institute under its Performance Tested Methods℠ (PTM) program, confirming equivalence to FDA’s ICP-MS method (EAM 4.7).3
This certification validates the accuracy, robustness, and performance of our system, giving confidence that Safe Catch’s rapid testing delivers reliable results at scale.
Certified Technology
- AOAC International, the leading global expert in technology accreditation has certified Safe Catch’s proprietary rapid mercury analyzer and method which is used to test every tuna and salmon for mercury.
- AOAC utilized 180 blind samples for comparative testing with the ICP-MS method. The Safe Catch analyzer was found to be equivalent to the FDA approved lab method of ICP-MS for testing mercury in seafood. AOAC spent over a year reviewing the Safe Catch technology, methods, accuracy and performance.
- AOAC International began in 1884 as the Association for Agricultural Chemists. Today the organization brings together cross-disciplinary teams from government, industry, and academia to verify testing methods with the goal of ensuring the safety of foods and other products that impact public health.
Reviewers
Expert Reviewer 1 – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service
Expert Reviewer 2 – US Food and Drug Administration, Forensic Chemistry Center
Expert Reviewer 3 – Independent consultant with background in chemistry and technology assessment
Setting the Strictest Mercury Limits
- Safe Catch Elite Wild Tuna: tested to a limit of 0.1 ppm — 10× lower than the FDA’s action level.
- Safe Catch Wild Ahi, Yellowfin Tuna: tested to a limit of 0.1 ppm — 10× lower than the FDA’s action level.
- Safe Catch Wild Pacific Pink Salmon: tested to a limit of 0.04 ppm — 25× lower than the FDA’s action level.
- Safe Catch Wild Albacore Tuna: tested to a limit of 0.38 ppm — 2.5× lower than the FDA’s action level.
We also batch-test sardines and trout4 using an algorithm developed with Stanford University, which delivered a 99.4% confidence interval (CI).
- Safe Catch Wild Sardines: batch tested to a limit of 0.1 ppm — 10× lower than the FDA’s action level.
- Safe Catch Smoked Rainbow Trout Fillets: batch tested to a limit of 0.1 ppm — 10× lower than the FDA’s action level.
These stricter limits are designed to support confidence in fish consumption among sensitive populations such as pregnant women and young children, as well as families and health-conscious consumers.5
Through trusted partnerships, certifications, and validations, Safe Catch delivers seafood with confidence — healthier and delicious.
We Don’t Just Say It. We Prove It.
Heritage brands challenged our claims, which triggered an audit from the National Advertising Division. After their thorough review:
This recognition underscores our commitment to transparency and scientific integrity.
We Don’t Just Say It. We Prove It.
Heritage brands challenged our claims, which triggered an audit from the National Advertising Division. After their thorough review:
This recognition underscores our commitment to transparency and scientific integrity.
- NOAA NCCOS – Mercury Hot Spots and Bioaccumulation in Fish.
- FDA – Elemental Analysis Manual (EAM 4.7).
- AOAC Research Institute – PTM #082002, validation of Safe Catch’s mercury-testing technology.
- FDA – Mercury action level set at 1.0 ppm (2000).
- Clarification – Safe Catch ppm limits are internal product standards; not dietary guidance.
- BBB National Programs, NAD – Findings confirming Safe Catch’s claims (2021).