New Choose Wisely Booklet Outlines Updated Safe-Eating Guidelines
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), today announced the online publication of the 2026-2028 Choose Wisely booklet, which outlines consumption guidelines for fish caught from waterbodies across the state.
While fish are a great source of lean protein and healthy omega-3 fats, pollutants from the water they live in and the food they eat may build up in their bodies. Some pollutants can build up to levels that can be harmful to wildlife and humans who eat fish.
The DNR routinely samples fish from popular angling areas and waters with suspected pollution and contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a type of PFAS. Scientists use the levels of contamination found in the fish and the best available evidence for how those contaminants affect human health to determine how much fish is safe to eat over a lifetime.
“The DNR tests for contaminants in fish from a number of waterbodies each year and uses these new results, along with past testing, to update the advice for these waters if needed,” said Sean Strom, DNR environmental toxicologist. “It is important for anglers who frequently eat fish to check for new advisory updates.”
Since the DNR published the prior version of Choose Wisely in 2024, the Great Lakes Consortium for Fish Consumption Advisories updated its recommended fish consumption guidelines for levels of PFOS in fish fillets. The DNR and DHS reviewed these new recommendations and made changes to several existing consumption advisories. Certain locations, such as parts of the Yahara River Chain of Lakes and the Wisconsin and La Crosse rivers, now have more restrictive consumption advisories, including “Do Not Eat” for some species.
The DNR and DHS encourage anglers and those eating fish from Wisconsin’s waters to review the newly updated recommendations in Choose Wisely to ensure they are following current safe-eating guidelines. Anglers can also look for signage with waterbody-specific advisories posted at some access points to help make decisions about which fish to keep in order to minimize consuming unwanted contaminants.
In addition to the updated Choose Wisely booklet, waterbody-specific consumption advice can be found by using the DNR’s online query tool.
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