An ad hoc committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will be convened to examine associations between seafood intake (maternal and child) and child growth and development. Specifically the committee will:

· Evaluate dietary intake and seafood composition data provided by the sponsors;

· Conduct systematic reviews of the scientific literature covering the areas of seafood nutrition and toxicology associated with seafood consumption and child growth and development;

· Review existing sources of evidence on maternal and child seafood consumption and child growth and development; and

· Develop an approach to synthesize the scientific evidence, and utilize that strategy to develop its findings and conclusions (quantitative and/or qualitative) about associations between seafood consumption and child growth and development. The committee's approach to evidence synthesis will be described in its report.

The committee will evaluate when to or not to conduct a formal Risk Benefit Analysis (RBA), relative to risk-benefit factors including how to assess quality and uncertainty of an RBA; provide scientific information and principles that can serve as a foundation to evaluate confidence in the potential conclusions of an RBA relative to these factors; and identify and comment on additional context, including equity, diversity, inclusion and access to health care that is additive to the findings of an RBA and any implications/applications capable of informing policy decisions by decision makers.

The committee will produce a report of its findings, conclusions and recommendations, including research recommendations to inform the Federal sponsors on the state of scientific evidence on types (e.g., based on species/variety and nutrient and contaminant composition) and recommended amounts of seafood to consume to support healthy growth and allow children to attain their full development.