Is Sushi & raw fish safe during pregnancy?
Not recommended during pregnancy — raw fish can carry parasites and bacteria like Listeria. Common swaps: cooked or veggie sushi rolls.
What the sources say
CDC, FDA and ACOG advise avoiding raw or undercooked fish, including sushi, sashimi and similar dishes, during pregnancy because raw fish is more likely to carry parasites or bacteria. Freezing is not treated as making raw fish safe in pregnancy (NHS). Sushi made only with fully cooked seafood or vegetables is the usual swap. While breastfeeding, CDC sets no special raw-fish rule, but general food-safety risks still apply and mercury limits do: pick low-mercury species and avoid bigeye tuna, swordfish, shark and king mackerel.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
sushi, sashimi, raw fish, poke, poke bowl, nigiri, tuna tartare, salmon tartare, crudo, raw tuna, raw salmon, seared ahi
Sources
- CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women
- FDA: Questions & Answers from the FDA/EPA Advice about Eating Fish
- ACOG: Healthy Eating During Pregnancy
- FDA: Fact or Fiction (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy
- CDC: Maternal Diet and Breastfeeding
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.