Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (654 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Marine fish and shellfish used as food or suitable for food. (Webster, 3d ed) shellfish and fish products are more specific types of seafood.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Seafoods; Sea-Food; Sea Food; Sea-Foods.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
Related concepts
- Shellfish
- Fish Products
- Seafood
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 20,327 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Seafood” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 5,423 of them (26.7%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 7,668 records.
Reviews account for 1,703 records (8.4%) and meta-analyses for 131. Randomized controlled trials number 239 (1.2%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 3,557 |
| 2000-2009 | 3,679 |
| 2010-2019 | 7,668 |
| 2020 onward | 5,423 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,703 | 8.4% |
| Meta-analyses | 131 | 0.6% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 239 | 1.2% |
Method: PubMed query "Seafood"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic | 2022 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 260 | cc by PMID 35881010 · DOI · PMC9348750 |
| Microplastic Contamination of Seafood Intended for Human Consumption: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | 2020 | Meta-analysis Design not recorded in structured metadata | 171 | cc0 PMID 33355482 · DOI · PMC7757379 |
| Occurrence of Microplastics in Commercial Seafood under the Perspective of the Human Food Chain. A Review | 2020 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 151 | cc by PMID 32310657 · DOI · PMC8007103 |
| Mercury contamination and human exposure through inland fishery and aquaculture products in Northeastern Brazil | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42231030 · DOI · PMC13230248 |
The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Understanding how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in 2019 is critical to preventing future zoonotic outbreaks before they become the next pandemic.
- Closing excerpt
- Although there is insufficient evidence to define upstream events, and exact circumstances remain obscure, our analyses indicate that the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 occurred through the live wildlife trade in China and show that the Huanan market was the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (147 words)
Understanding how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in 2019 is critical to preventing future zoonotic outbreaks before they become the next pandemic. The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China, was identified as a likely source of cases in early reports, but later this conclusion became controversial. We show here that the earliest known COVID-19 cases from December 2019, including those without reported direct links, were geographically centered on this market. We report that live SARS-CoV-2-susceptible mammals were sold at the market in late 2019 and that within the market, SARS-CoV-2-positive environmental samples were spatially associated with vendors selling live mammals. Although there is insufficient evidence to define upstream events, and exact circumstances remain obscure, our analyses indicate that the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 occurred through the live wildlife trade in China and show that the Huanan market was the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35881010 · DOI · PMC9348750
Microplastic Contamination of Seafood Intended for Human Consumption: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundMicroplastics (MPs) have contaminated all compartments of the marine environment including biota such as seafood; ingestion from such sources is one of the two major uptake routes identified for human exposure.
- Closing excerpt
- 1289/EHP7171.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (200 words)
BackgroundMicroplastics (MPs) have contaminated all compartments of the marine environment including biota such as seafood; ingestion from such sources is one of the two major uptake routes identified for human exposure.ObjectivesThe objectives were to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the levels of MP contamination in seafood and to subsequently estimate the annual human uptake.MethodsMEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched from launch (1947, 1974, and 1900, respectively) up to October 2020 for all studies reporting MP content in seafood species. Mean, standard deviations, and ranges of MPs found were collated. Studies were appraised systematically using a bespoke risk of bias (RoB) assessment tool.ResultsFifty studies were included in the systematic review and 19 in the meta-analysis. Evidence was available on four phyla: mollusks, crustaceans, fish, and echinodermata. The majority of studies identified MP contamination in seafood and reported MP content DiscussionThis is the first systematic review, to our knowledge, to assess and quantify MP contamination of seafood and human uptake from its consumption, suggesting that action must be considered in order to reduce human exposure via such consumption. Further high-quality research using standardized methods is needed to cement the scientific evidence on MP contamination and human exposures. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7171.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc0 licence; © the authors. PMID 33355482 · DOI · PMC7757379
Occurrence of Microplastics in Commercial Seafood under the Perspective of the Human Food Chain. A Review [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The occurrence of microplastics in the marine ecosystem and aquatic organisms, their trophic transfer along the food web, and the identification of seafood species as suitable indicators have become a research priority.
- Closing excerpt
- Further research to assess the occurrence of microplastics in the marine food web, the long-term effects on animals and humans, and the health implications is needed.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (102 words)
The occurrence of microplastics in the marine ecosystem and aquatic organisms, their trophic transfer along the food web, and the identification of seafood species as suitable indicators have become a research priority. Despite the high quantity of research in this field, a comparison between the available data and an appropriate risk assessment remains difficult. In this perspective, as an innovative approach, the association of the feeding strategies of commercial seafood and the microplastic level was considered. Further research to assess the occurrence of microplastics in the marine food web, the long-term effects on animals and humans, and the health implications is needed.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32310657 · DOI · PMC8007103
Mercury contamination and human exposure through inland fishery and aquaculture products in Northeastern Brazil [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The exponential growth of inland fisheries and aquaculture in Northeastern Brazil requires permanent monitoring of the quality of their products, particularly regarding persistent globally distributed pollutants such as mercury (Hg).
- Closing excerpt
- Estimates of Hg ingestion by fish consumers indicate very low exposure risk, even for high consumption scenarios, suggesting that consumption of these fishery and aquaculture products is safe with respect to Hg exposure.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (205 words)
The exponential growth of inland fisheries and aquaculture in Northeastern Brazil requires permanent monitoring of the quality of their products, particularly regarding persistent globally distributed pollutants such as mercury (Hg). This is the first survey on Hg concentrations in inland fishery and aquaculture products from the region. This survey includes an inventory of Hg concentrations vis-à-vis compliance with national and international food safety guidelines and an evaluation of Hg exposure risk from fishery and aquaculture products consumption. Mercury concentrations were quantified in 14 fish species, representing the regional inland fisheries and including the main aquaculture product, the Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Overall, concentrations were very low and well below the established threshold for human and environmental health protection. As expected, concentrations were higher in carnivorous species, such as Serrasalmus rhombeus (Piranha) from fluvial systems. We found an important pattern of Hg accumulation in farmed Tilapia, where market-size fish presented lower Hg concentrations than juveniles. This pattern likely reflects accelerated growth under intensive feeding conditions, resulting in dilution of Hg within rapidly increasing biomass. Estimates of Hg ingestion by fish consumers indicate very low exposure risk, even for high consumption scenarios, suggesting that consumption of these fishery and aquaculture products is safe with respect to Hg exposure.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42231030 · DOI · PMC13230248
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Microplastics in Seafood and the Implications for Human Health [5]
- Research article Heavy metals in marine fish meat and consumer health: a review [6]
- Research article Microplastics and seafood: lower trophic organisms at highest risk of contamination [7]
- Research article Edible films and coatings in seafood preservation: A review [8]
- Research article Shellfish allergy [9]
- Research article Arsenic in the human food chain, biotransformation and toxicology--Review focusing on seafood arsenic [10]
References
- Worobey M, Levy JI, Malpica Serrano L, Crits-Christoph A, Pekar JE, Goldstein SA, et al.. The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. . 2022. PMID 35881010 · DOI · PMC9348750
- Danopoulos E, Jenner LC, Twiddy M, Rotchell JM. Microplastic Contamination of Seafood Intended for Human Consumption: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. . 2020. PMID 33355482 · DOI · PMC7757379
- Mercogliano R, Avio CG, Regoli F, Anastasio A, Colavita G, Santonicola S. Occurrence of Microplastics in Commercial Seafood under the Perspective of the Human Food Chain. A Review. . 2020. PMID 32310657 · DOI · PMC8007103
- de Lacerda LD, Bezerra MF. Mercury contamination and human exposure through inland fishery and aquaculture products in Northeastern Brazil. . 2026. PMID 42231030 · DOI · PMC13230248
- Smith M, Love DC, Rochman CM, Neff RA. Microplastics in Seafood and the Implications for Human Health. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2018. PMID 30116998 · DOI · PMC6132564
- Bosch AC, O'Neill B, Sigge GO, Kerwath SE, Hoffman LC. Heavy metals in marine fish meat and consumer health: a review. J Sci Food Agric. 2016. PMID 26238481 · DOI
- Walkinshaw C, Lindeque PK, Thompson R, Tolhurst T, Cole M. Microplastics and seafood: lower trophic organisms at highest risk of contamination. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2020. PMID 31846861 · DOI
- Dehghani S, Hosseini SV, Regenstein JM. Edible films and coatings in seafood preservation: A review. Food Chem. 2018. PMID 28946304 · DOI
- Lopata AL, O'Hehir RE, Lehrer SB. Shellfish allergy. Clin Exp Allergy. 2010. PMID 20412131 · DOI
- Molin M, Ulven SM, Meltzer HM, Alexander J. Arsenic in the human food chain, biotransformation and toxicology--Review focusing on seafood arsenic. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2015. PMID 25666158 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.