Immigrants and refugees often bring their food habits with them to their new homes. This includes their love for fishing, or maybe their favorite fish soup recipe. But what happens when immigrant families rely on fish from contaminated waters? A Wisconsin Department of Health Services study found that in the Burmese refugee community in Milwaukee, women of childbearing age had higher levels of Mercury, PCBs, and lead in their blood levels compared to other Milwaukee women of the same age. In this episode, we are joined by Judy Yan, Amanda Haban, Dr. Gavin Dehnert and Dr. Tom Pearson as we discuss how to navigate cultural and language diversity to inform all communities about safe fish consumption.

Special thanks to our guests:

Judy Yan, Collaborator with Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Amanda Haban, Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Thomas Pearson, University of Wisconsin-Stout

Gavin Dehnert, Wisconsin Sea Grant

Links:

• Authentic Chinese Fish Tofu Soup (正宗广东台山鱼汤豆腐）
• Choosing which fish to eat
• Eating your catch - making healthy choices
• Choose Wisely: A Health Guide for Eating Fish in Wisconsin
• Emerging Contaminants resources
• Fish Consumption Advice for the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern
• Eating Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know 
• Fish consumption and awareness of fish advisories among Burmese refugees: A respondent-driven sampling study in Milwaukee, Wisconsin