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August 20, 2025
Introducing solids to your baby is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with many questions, especially regarding seafood. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies can typically start eating tuna after six months of age, once they’re ready for solid foods.¹ It’s essential to consider your baby’s readiness for solids, allergy history, and the benefits of introducing common allergens early under pediatrician guidance.¹
Pediatricians generally recommend introducing allergenic foods early, including fish, to help reduce the risk of developing allergies later on.² Consult your pediatrician to determine the best timeline tailored specifically for your baby’s health history and developmental readiness.¹
¹ American Academy of Pediatrics – When to Introduce Common Food Allergens to Your Baby.
² PMC – Food Allergy: Epidemiology and Natural History.
Mercury exposure is a concern for many parents introducing tuna into their baby’s diet—and for good reason. Mercury can impact brain development, making it critical to choose tuna with consistently low and tested mercury levels.¹
Mercury naturally accumulates in fish tissue over time, with larger, longer-lived fish typically having higher levels.¹ Babies and young children are especially vulnerable because of rapid brain development.¹ That’s why choosing fish that is individually mercury-tested is essential.²
Safe Catch tests every tuna individually to a mercury limit 10× lower than the FDA’s action level — no other brand does this.
¹ EPA/FDA – Advice About Eating Fish and Shellfish (updated 2024).
² Safe Catch tuna testing – Safe Catch sets proprietary mercury limits for tuna: up to 10× lower than the FDA’s action level. Safe Catch is the only brand that tests every tuna individually.
Tuna provides important nutrients, including:
These benefits are recognized by dietary guidelines, but always follow pediatric guidance when introducing any new food.¹
¹ U.S. Department of Agriculture & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025.
² American Academy of Pediatrics – When to Introduce Common Food Allergens to Your Baby.
Tuna Variety | Average Mercury (ppm) | Mercury Level |
|---|---|---|
Skipjack (Light Tuna) | ~0.131 | Lower |
Yellowfin (Ahi Tuna) | ~0.351,2 | Medium |
Albacore (White Tuna) | ~0.361 | Medium |
Bluefin Tuna | ~0.603 | High |
Bigeye Tuna | ~0.691 | High |
Safe Catch tests every tuna fish by fish to a strict mercury limit — up to 10× lower than the FDA’s action level. The lowest mercury limit of any canned tuna brand.
While tuna is highly nutritious, not all types are safe for young children. Certain species—especially those larger and longer-lived—tend to contain higher mercury levels, which can pose health risks to developing brains and nervous systems.¹
Bigeye and bluefin³ tuna fall into the FDA/EPA “Choices to Avoid” category due to high mercury levels and should be avoided for babies and toddlers.¹ Albacore (white tuna) and yellowfin are classified as “Good Choices” by the FDA/EPA, meaning they can be eaten in moderation — about 1 serving per week.¹
As shown in the chart, and according to FDA’s mercury data for commercial fish and shellfish, the average mercury levels in bigeye (~0.69 ppm) and bluefin (~0.60 ppm) remain well above the levels found in the EPA/FDA Best Choices category, while albacore (~0.36 ppm) and yellowfin (~0.35 ppm) fall in the moderate range.¹
Among tuna varieties, canned light tuna (typically skipjack) has the lowest mercury content and is classified as a ‘Best Choice’ by the FDA/EPA.
At Safe Catch, we test every tuna individually to ensure it meets our strict mercury limit.
This extra level of testing provides parents with added assurance that Safe Catch tuna is a clean source of protein, naturally rich in Omega-3s, iron, and vitamin D.²
¹ EPA/FDA – Advice About Eating Fish and Shellfish (updated 2024).
² Safe Catch proprietary mercury-testing standards (0.1 ppm, 10× lower than the FDA’s action level). The FDA/EPA list yellowfin tuna in the Good Choices category, recommending limited consumption. Third-party studies (e.g., Karimi et al., Environmental Science & Technology, 2012) confirm variability in yellowfin mercury levels, highlighting the need for strict testing.
³ Bluefin tuna is not individually listed in the EPA/FDA consumer chart. Reported averages are based on peer-reviewed studies, e.g. ~0.32–0.85 ppm (ResearchGate, Mercury concentrations in bluefin tunas, 2007) and ~0.49–1.60 ppm (ScienceDirect, Mercury concentrations in reared Atlantic bluefin tuna, 2020).
Though uncommon, being aware of potential signs can give parents peace of mind when introducing seafood for the first time. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that early exposure to methylmercury—the form found in seafood—may affect:
These symptoms can also be caused by a variety of other factors, so there’s no need to worry unnecessarily. But if you notice anything concerning after introducing fish, it’s always best to check in with your pediatrician.
To help ease those concerns, Safe Catch is the only brand to test every single tuna and salmon individually for mercury.
That’s why Safe Catch Elite Wild Tuna and Wild Pacific Pink Salmon are the official tuna and salmon of the American Pregnancy Association — and why families across the country trust us to deliver clean, worry-free seafood every time.
Not all canned tuna is created equal. Safe Catch Elite Wild Tuna and Wild Ahi, Yellowfin Tuna are:
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), introducing solid foods—including seafood—can begin around 6 months, depending on your baby’s developmental readiness and after successful tolerance of initial foods.¹
In fact, current AAP guidance shows that delaying fish or other allergenic foods beyond 4–6 months offers no benefit in preventing allergies.² Early introduction, under pediatric guidance, may even help reduce the risk of conditions like eczema or asthma later in childhood.³
When introducing seafood to your baby’s diet, health organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend choosing options from low-mercury species.1,2 Safe Catch tuna is individually tested for mercury to meet strict limits, making it a choice that aligns with these guidelines. Always consult your pediatrician for personalized feeding advice.³
¹ American Academy of Pediatrics – When to Introduce Common Food Allergens to Your Baby.
² U.S. Department of Agriculture & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025.
³ FDA – Advice About Eating Fish for Women Who Are or Might Become Pregnant, Breastfeeding Mothers, and Young Children.
How often can my baby safely eat tuna?
Health organizations like the FDA and EPA recommend 2–3 servings per week of a variety of low-mercury seafood for young children (about 1 oz per serving for ages 1–3, and 2 oz for ages 4–7).¹
What’s the safest age to introduce seafood?
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that seafood can generally be introduced around 6 months, once your baby is developmentally ready and has tolerated other solids.²
Are there other seafood options for babies?
Yes — salmon and sardines are examples of fish that are lower in mercury and fall within the FDA/EPA Best Choices category.¹
Find Safe Catch Products Near You and give your baby a nutritious, worry-free start.