Is Chicken, turkey & other poultry safe during pregnancy?
Safe and nutritious when cooked to 165°F throughout (check the thickest part). Avoid pink or undercooked poultry.
What the sources say
USDA and CDC: all poultry — whole birds, breasts, legs, thighs, wings, ground poultry, giblets and stuffing — should reach 165°F, measured in the thickest part. Store-bought rotisserie chicken is safest eaten hot or reheated to 165°F as a leftover. Keep raw poultry and its juices away from ready-to-eat foods and wash hands, boards and utensils after handling. No special restriction while breastfeeding (CDC).
Also listed as
chicken, chicken breast, chicken thighs, chicken wings, turkey, roast turkey, ground turkey, ground chicken, duck, rotisserie chicken, chicken nuggets, fried chicken
Sources
- USDA/FSIS: Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart
- CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women
- USDA/FSIS: Leftovers and Food Safety
- CDC: Maternal Diet and Breastfeeding
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.