The problem with sardines is that they taste awful to most people. The industry is struggling, and the biggest sardine packager in massachusetts closed down this year.
The mercury argument is not correct. I believe all the credible research studies done have suggested only pregnant women and children are susceptible to the "high" mercury levels in canned tuna.
Independent of consensus on the threshold concentration for Mercury poisoning, What I explicitly stated is that sardines contain lower levels than tuna, which IS correct. By definition of them being a smaller fish with a shorter lifespan, less heavy metals and pollutants of ANY variety will have accumulated within them.
Also for environmental sustainability if we examine the Seafood Watch's website, we notice both farmed Oysters and Pacific Sardines on the Super Green List in the Best of the Best category http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_he... [ Further examination: On sardine page, only choice is "best choice". For tuna, everything is generally "avoid" unless it is "trole or pole" caught. ]
Comments
The problem with sardines is that they taste awful to most people. The industry is struggling, and the biggest sardine packager in massachusetts closed down this year.
The mercury argument is not correct. I believe all the credible research studies done have suggested only pregnant women and children are susceptible to the "high" mercury levels in canned tuna.
Independent of consensus on the threshold concentration for Mercury poisoning, What I explicitly stated is that sardines contain lower levels than tuna, which IS correct. By definition of them being a smaller fish with a shorter lifespan, less heavy metals and pollutants of ANY variety will have accumulated within them.
Also for environmental sustainability if we examine the Seafood Watch's website, we notice both farmed Oysters and Pacific Sardines on the Super Green List in the Best of the Best category http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_he... [ Further examination: On sardine page, only choice is "best choice". For tuna, everything is generally "avoid" unless it is "trole or pole" caught. ]
I object to the notions sardines taste fundamentally bad, I think Alton Brown's Avocado-Sardine sandwich was one of his few works of genius: http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/01/alton-browns-sardine-avoc...