Mercury Exposure: Eight City Halls Remove Tuna from School Canteens

29 August 2025

Following the mobilization of NGOs BLOOM, Foodwatch, and Banlieues Climat, which denounced the inadequacy of current health standards regarding mercury contamination in tuna, eight cities have committed to prioritizing what should be protected above all else: children’s health. In a joint press release, the cities of Bègles, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Montpellier, Mouans-Sartoux, Paris, and Rennes announced that they would be removing tuna from school canteens until regulations on mercury in tuna offer sufficient protection to human health. The municipalities are urging the French government and parliament to revise the maximum allowable mercury limit in tuna, and to push for a European-wide revision that aligns with the strictest protective threshold currently in place for fish. This move is all the more critical given that France’s leading tuna brand, Petit Navire, launched a major advertising campaign this summer without adopting more health-protective mercury thresholds in its products. 

Our October 2024 investigation revealed that, despite tuna being one of the most mercury-contaminated fish species, the European Commission and Member States had set significantly higher maximum mercury limits for this product than for other fish species. [1] Since then, tuna sales have dropped in France, [2] and the industry’s free rein over mercury levels in their products is being challenged: the European Commission is consulting Member States since December 2024 on a potential revision of the standard. [3] Despite an unprecedented public response and a petition signed by nearly 60,000 people, the French government stated that it has no intention of lowering the current mercury thresholds [4]. 

In response to the French government’s inaction, the French local elected officials of Bègles, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Montpellier, Mouans-Sartoux, Paris, and Rennes are taking action to protect children’s health. In a joint press release issued on 28 August 2025, [5] the municipalities are taking on the responsibility that the French government refuses to bear by removing tuna from school canteens as long as this fish is permitted to contain potentially harmful mercury levels. The city halls are calling on the Ministries of Health and of Agriculture, as well as members of the French Parliament, to act without delay and to clearly take a stand in favor of a truly protective health standard at both the European and French levels.  

This commitment is all the more crucial given that, while national political leaders are slow to act, industry players are redoubling their efforts to protect their market share without adopting new, more protective product thresholds. [6] In direct contradiction to any precautionary principle, the brand Petit Navire, for example, launched a massive marketing campaign over the summer to promote its products, including to younger audiences. Targeting students, young parents, and athletes, the brand displayed large-scale advertising murals in Parisian subway and train stations, showed ads in cinema, multiplied collaborations with content creators on social media, and even entered the world of sports and festivals, such as Climbing District Saint-Lazare, Les Déferlantes and Francofolies. 

The irresponsibility of the industry and France’s inaction must stop. Civil society organizations are joining forces with municipalities to call on the Ministries of Health and Agriculture, as well as French parliamentarians, to advocate for lowering the maximum mercury level in tuna to 0.3 mg/kg, both in Brussels and at the national level.

Top: Giant Petit Navire advertisements at Châtelet metro station in Paris, July 24, 2025. 

Bottom: Petit Navire promotion on social media during an event with content creators at the Climbing District climbing gym in Paris, June 19, 2025; Petit Navire booth at the Francofolies music festival in La Rochelle, July 11, 2025. 

>>> Mercury-Contaminated Tuna: Learn More About the Public Health Scandal Exposed by BLOOM in October 2024 <<< 

References  

 [1] The maximum mercury limit in tuna was set with the aim of maximizing tuna sales. It is based on economic criteria (allowing the sale of 95% of products), not on health considerations. See BLOOM (2024), “Toxic Tuna : Chronicle of a health scandal “ 

[2] Tuna can sales in France dropped by 10 to 20% between November 2024 and February 2025 compared to the same period the previous year (source). The polling institute BVA Xsight reported that 36% of French people say they have changed (or plan to change) their tuna consumption in recent months due to mercury contamination.

[3] BLOOM press release (May 5, 2025): “The mercury threshold in tuna could be lowered at the European level“ 

[4] https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/questions/QANR5L17QE1771  

[5] Joint press release by eight municipalities (August 28, 2025)

[6] https://conservesdepoissons.fr/thon-mercure-faisons-le-point/