Asian American and Pacific Islander seafood consumption — a community-based study in King County, Washington

This paper describes and quantifies seafood consumption rates, and acquisition and preparation habits of 202 first- and second-generation Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) from 10 ethnic groups (Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Mien, Samoan, and Vietnamese) in King County, Washington in 1997. Participants were all seafood consumers. Average and median seafood consumption rates were 117.2 and 89 g/day, respectively, based on the average body weight (62 kg) of participants. Shellfish comprised 45.9% and “all finfish” 43.3% of all seafood consumed. Consumption rates varied significantly between ethnic groups with Vietnamese (2.63 g/kg/day) and Japanese (2.18 g/kg/day) having the highest average consumption rates, and Mien (0.58 g/kg/day) and Hmong (0.59 g/kg/day) the lowest. The most frequently consumed finfish and invertebrates were salmon (93% of respondents), tuna (86%), shrimp (98%), crab (96%), and squid (82%). Fish fillets were eaten with the skin 55%, and the head, bones, eggs, and/or other organs 20% of the time. Crabmeat including the hepatopancreas (accumulates lipophilic chemicals such as organochlorine compounds) was consumed 43% of the time. This paper was a product of a Community–University Partnership. Community guidance in study design and data collection was essential for successful participation by the AAPI Community. Data reported here not only will provide risk assessors with AAPI-specific seafood consumption rates but with insights into cultural consumption/acquisition habits that may alter risk assessment assumptions for the AAPI Community.