When the Washington Post published the article “Most people aren’t following this important dietary advice. Are you?” it gave voice to a long-accepted, nutritional certainty that doctors, dietitians, and even public health policy makers have known for years… Americans don’t eat enough seafood and it’s effecting their health.
Columnist Anahad O’Connor writes, “Eating seafood is good for your brain, eye and heart health. But 90 percent of adults aren’t eating enough.”
The piece cycles through a hit parade of findings from published peer-reviewed research concluding that the “evidence is so compelling” it’s roundly endorsed by the American Heart Association.
It’s a scientifically sound piece of writing until the author decides, for the mercury in seafood references, he will rely on a completely unscientific report compiled by a magazine best known for vacuum cleaner and car stereo reviews. Also noteworthy, the “Senior Scientist” at said magazine who can be found making important nutrition recommendations has a Ph.D. in… wait for it… “Integrated Pest Management.” Not making this up. Read for yourself.
Here we find a science writer with a Yale University degree, focused on neuroscience, allowing a consumer electronics magazine that employes a bug scientist to recommend how much seafood Americans should eat. Ultimately, this is a colossal editorial failure that does a disservice to the very public health the article attempts to advantage.
If readers or the Washington Post itself have any queries about the unquestionable misinformation originally published by Consumer Reports on this topic, we suggest you read the following:
