Is Raw beef dishes safe during pregnancy?
Not recommended during pregnancy — raw or undercooked meat can carry Toxoplasma, E. coli and Salmonella.
PregnancyNot recommended
BreastfeedingUse with care
EvidenceStrong
What the sources say
CDC, FDA, ACOG and Mayo Clinic advise against raw or undercooked meat during pregnancy. Toxoplasma infection may cause no symptoms in the parent but can harm the baby. Choose versions cooked to safe temperatures (145°F for whole cuts with a 3-minute rest, 160°F for ground meat). While breastfeeding there's no special rule, but raw meat carries the same food-poisoning risks for anyone.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
steak tartare, beef tartare, tartare, carpaccio, beef carpaccio, kibbeh nayyeh, raw kibbeh, kitfo, yukhoe, raw beef, crudo de res, mett
Sources
- CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women
- FDA: Toxoplasma (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)
- CDC: Preventing Toxoplasmosis
- ACOG: The Top 6 Pregnancy Questions I Hear From First-Time Moms
- Mayo Clinic: Pregnancy nutrition: Foods to avoid during pregnancy
- USDA/FSIS: Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.