MDHHS Publishes 2025 Eat Safe Fish Guides

The The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has just released the five regional 2025 edition Eat Safe Fish Guides. The MDHHS Eat Safe Fish Program also has other guides on eating wildlife and store bought fish:

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/insid.../eat-safe-fish

Michigan releases 2025 Eat Safe Fish Guides to help residents learn about and plan for local fish consumption

By Lynn Sutfin - June 02, 2025

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has released the 2025 Eat Safe Fish Guides to help Michigan residents choose which fish are safe to eat for them and their families.

The Eat Safe Fish Guides provide consumption guidelines for eating locally caught fish. Guidelines are based on levels of chemicals found in the portions of fish that people eat – typically the filets. Test results from the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories are used to determine what is safe for people to eat over the long term.

“There are many health benefits to eating fish and the Eat Safe Fish Guides provide consumption recommendations based on the levels of certain chemicals found in fish in waterbodies across the state,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “Michigan families can use these guidelines to help make healthy choices about the fish they eat.”

MDHHS’ Eat Safe Fish Guides are not laws or regulations, but instead serve as a free resource for those who want information about which fish and how much of those fish are healthy to eat from various bodies of water across the state.

A recent scientific review of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has provided MDHHS more information about the toxicity of PFOS and its impact on human health. PFOS has been found to be a greater threat to human health than previously thought and has resulted in changes to this year’s Eat Safe Fish Guides. Additional guidelines are included due to PFOS for both entire waterbodies and specific fish species, including an increase in the number of Do Not Eat guidelines.

MDHHS also produces the Buy Safe Fish Guide to help residents choose seafood that is lower in mercury from local grocery stores, fish markets and restaurants. The Eat Safe Fish Guides and Buy Safe Fish Guide are available online at Michigan.gov/EatSafeFish.

For more information on how to buy, eat or prepare safe fish, or to get the 2025 Eat Safe Fish Guide for your region, visit Michigan.gov/EatSafeFish and select Find Your Area or call the MDHHS Division of Environmental Health at 800-648-6942.

More information on the data that resulted in changes in PFOS guidelines is available in the PFOS Reference Dose Health Consultation.