The report of the first Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption was published in 2010. Since then, new literature, data and information on the subject have become available. As such, FAO and WHO decided to generate a background report consisting of a comprehensive literature review, followed by an expert consultation, to update the report with new scientific evidence. This background document aims to provide scientific evidence about the risks and benefits of fish consumption in order to update the 2010 Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption. To provide new scientific evidence, five extensive literature reviews were conducted, focusing on the following five topics: 1. evidence of health benefits from fish consumption; 2. toxic effects of dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) (from studies published since 2010); 3. toxic effects of methylmercury (MeHg) (from studies published since 2010); 4. the role of selenium (Se) with regard to the health effects of MeHg; 5. occurrence data for MeHg, dioxins and dl-PCBs in fishery and aquaculture products (from studies published since 2010). The reviews followed a systematic approach, performing a systematic literature search and implementing elements from systematic literature reviews. A systematic review attempts to identify, appraise and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets prespecified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question.

Evolving science and debate concerning the benefits and risks of consuming fish have resulted in confusion over the years, and national and international food safety agencies have recognized the need to provide useful, clear and relevant information in this regard to consumers. In October 2023, FAO and WHO held the second Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption to analyse new scientific evidence on the matter and draw relevant conclusions and recommendations. The overall conclusions of the exercise show that consuming fish provides energy, protein and a range of other nutrients important for health, and that there are benefits related to fish consumption during all life stages (pregnancy, childhood and adulthood). General population studies show that the benefits and individual effects of fish consumption vary depending on overall diet, the characteristics of consumers, and the fish that is consumed.

"In response to growing public concern in recent years regarding the presence of chemical contaminants in fish as well as emerging evidence on the multiple nutritional benefits of including fish in the diet, FAO and WHO convened a Joint Expert Consultation on the Risk and Benefits More ... of Fish Consumption. The output of the Expert Consultation is a framework for assessing the net health benefits or risks of fish consumption that will provide guidance to national food safety authorities and the Codex Alimentarius Commission in their work on managing risks, taking into account the existing data on the benefits of eating fish."--Publisher description

This publication presents the background and summary documents from a series of six moderated e-mail conferences hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum from 2002 to 2005, relating to agricultural biotechnology for the crop, forestry, animal, fisheries and agro-industry sectors in developing countries. Three of the six conferences focused on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), dealing with gene flow from GM to non-GM populations, regulation of GMOs and participation of the rural people in decision-making regarding GMOs. Two conferences covered the entire range of biotechnology tools (including GMOs), dealing with the role and focus of biotechnology in the agricultural research agenda and applications of biotechnology in food processing. The remaining conference dealt with molecular marker-assisted selection.

"More than 60 percent of global production of smoked fishery products occurs in Africa and Asia, highlighting their tremendous significance in food and nutrition security, as well as livelihood support in these regions. However, prevailing processing technologies present critical challenges, especially in terms of safety and quality aspects, and thus there is an urgent need for the development of more efficient and safer systems. The FAO-Thiaroye fish processing technique (FTT) was developed to address these challenges by yielding products that comply with international limits on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in particular, while fostering many social, economic and environmental benefits. This document examines the conditions in which improved fish smoking systems in general, and the FTT in particular, have been adopted in the context of benefits, trade-offs and policy implications in selected developing countries. In fact, experience from some African and Asian countries points to the need for a context-driven balance that ensures that the gains associated with the use of this new technique can be realized without making expensive compromises, especially in terms of fisheries resources status and trade dynamics. Policy and regulatory frameworks need to be informed by a risk-based approach and supportive of consistent benchmarking and differentiation of FTT products. This document reviews the lessons from those countries, and makes the case for a hard, evidence-based, policy backbone to safeguard the sustainable, eco-friendly supply of safe smoked (and dried) fishery products to support food security, particularly in the developing world. It aims to enlighten policy makers, fisheries planners and decision makers and any development practitioner interested in developing small-scale fisheries or promoting sustainable food systems, as well as private sector entrepreneurs who wish to implement this technology to improve their products. It provides recommendations on how best to mainstream consumers' interests while supporting sustainable livelihoods interventions in fisheries communities."--Page 4 of cover.