Subsistence Food Safety – Assessing the Risks and Benefits

To read the current State of Alaska fish consumption guidelines, click here.

The Environmental Public Health Program is engaged in an ongoing effort to characterize the safety of subsistence foods in Alaska. This process involves an assessment of the health benefits and risks of subsistence food consumption. Alaska fish and marine mammals are valuable sources of protein, vitamins, minerals, and other important nutritional components like heart-healthy omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Subsistence food use is also associated with important cultural and economic benefits.

The Environmental Public Health Program is carefully considering these known nutritional, cultural and economic benefits of subsistence foods, as well as the possible health risks associated with the consumption of contaminants in these foods.

The health risks posed by the consumption of contaminants in subsistence foods must also be balanced against the health risks of alternative replacements foods which are often less nutritious. Contaminants that have been detected in some subsistence foods include small amounts of cadmium and methyl mercury, and organic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These contaminants are also found in small amounts in some store-bought foods.

Comprehensive reviews of the levels of contaminants in Alaska subsistence foods, the risks associated with those levels, and the benefits of subsistence food use are available in the following reports:

• Fish Consumption Advice for Alaskans: A Risk Management Strategy to Optimize the Public's Health. (2014)572 KB
• Fish Consumption Advice for Alaskans: A Risk Management Strategy to Optimize the Public's Health. (2007)494 KB
• The Use of Traditional Foods in a Healthy Diet in Alaska: Risks in Perspective. (1998)16.1 MB
• The Use of Traditional Foods in a Healthy Diet in Alaska: Risks in Perspective. Second Edition: Volume 1. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Related Compounds. (2004)1.0 MB
• The Use of Traditional Foods in a Healthy Diet in Alaska: Risks in Perspective. Second Edition: Volume 2. Mercury. (2004)1.8 MB

The risks and benefits of consuming subsistence foods must be taken into account when devising consumption guidelines.

Benefits Nutrition Taste Socio-cultural value Economic value Heart health

Risks Less healthy food substitutes Accidents – hunting/fishing Contaminants Parasites

Adapted from Dr. Harriet Kuhnlein, Centre for Indigenous Peoples Nutrition and Environment

Some drawbacks of reduced fish consumption which should be considered include:

• Health risks associated with alternative foods
• Increased consumption of saturated fat which can lead to cardiovascular disease
• Increased consumption of carbohydrates which can lead to obesity and diabetes
• Loss of nutritional and health benefits
• Overall negative health impact of dietary and lifestyle changes
• High cost of replacement foods
• Social, economic and health consequences from the breakdown of subsistence

The risks and benefits of subsistence foods in the scientific literature:

Mozaffarian, D., Rimm, Eric. Fish Intake, Contaminants, and Human Health: Evaluating the Risks and the Benefits. JAMA.2006 Oct 18; 296(15):1885-99. Review. Erratum in: JAMA. 2007 Feb 14; 297(6):590.

Willett, W., Fish: Balancing Health Risks and Benefits. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2005; Nov 29(4):320-1

Hibbeln Jr., Davis JM., Steer C., et al. Maternal seafood consumption in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood (ALSPAC Study): an observational cohort study. Lancet 2007; 369(9561):578-85.

Kuhnlein, H. Benefits and risks of traditional foods for Indigenous Peoples: focus on dietary intake of Arctic men. Canadian J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 1995 Jun; 73:765-771

Websites & Documents of Interest:

• Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program
• Alaska Department of Fish and Game Subsistence Harvest Data and Reports
• Alaska Department of Fish and Game Community Subsistence Information System
• Alaska Traditional Knowledge and Native Foods Database
• Food Safety for First Nations People of Canada: A Manual for Healthy Practices

To find out more about the subsistence foods safety program, contact the Environmental Public Health Program either by phone (907-269-8000) or e-mail (eph@alaska.gov).