France, Aug. 30 -- Eight cities, including Paris and Lyon, are taking tuna off their school menus from the start of the new term on Monday after research showed high levels of mercury in tinned tuna fish, prompting fears over risks to children's health.

The French municipalities of Paris, Lille, Lyon, Grenoble, Montpellier, Rennes, Begles and Mouans-Sartoux have "temporarily removed" the popular fish in their school meals.

The decision came after a study last year by campaign groups Bloom and Foodwatch revealed the tinned fish can contain toxic levels of mercury. Samples fromthe 148 cans of tuna bought in France, Germany, England, Spain and Italy all tested positive for mercury contamination.Some cans contained levels four times higher ...