MN Fish Consumption Guidelines As PFAs Detected in Fish From Vermillion River
March 24, 2026 | Source: FOX9 | by FOX 9 Staff
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – The Minnesota Department of Health has updated its fish consumption guidelines as mercury continues to be a problem in fish caught in northeast Minnesota and PFAS has been detected for the first time in fish pulled from the Vermillion River.
New fish consumption guidelines
What we know:
The guidelines vary based on who you are, the size and type of fish you caught, and where you caught the fish. The main concerns appear to be northeast Minnesota, where mercury remains an issue, and new to the report is the Vermillion River where officials have detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fish for the first time.
Big picture view:
PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” were used widely by industrial companies, like 3M, to make plastic products, nonstick cookware, fast food packaging, and other products. It has since been classified as a human carcinogen by the National Institute of Health.