Pregnant women should not eat canned tuna because it may contain harmful levels of mercury, Consumer Reports magazine said on Monday, taking a more cautious approach than that recommended by the U.S. government.

Government tests found instances where canned light tuna had as much mercury, a potentially harmful heavy metal, as white tuna, also known as albacore, according to the magazine's latest issue.

High levels of mercury in the bloodstream may harm developing nervous systems, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Fish and shellfish are the main sources of mercury exposure for humans.

Since March 2004, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have recommended women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or nursing should eat no more than 6 ounces (170 grams) of albacore tuna a week.

But the government says it is safe to eat up to 12 ounces (340 grams) -- the amount of fish in two meals -- per week of fish and shellfish low in mercury, such as shrimp, salmon, light tuna, catfish and pollock.

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