Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Eat Sushi?

Sushi is a popular dish that many people enjoy, but is it safe for pregnant women to eat? The answer to this question is a little bit complicated. There are some types of sushi that are safe for pregnant women to eat, and there are some types that are not safe. In this blog post, we will discuss the safety of eating sushi during pregnancy, and provide tips on how to make sure you are eating safe sushi.

In addition to some safety precautions, let’s take a closer look at specific recommendations for eating Sushi and other seafood during pregnancy.

Is Sushi Safe for Pregnant Women?

According to FoodSafety.gov, any sushi containing raw or undercooked seafood is off-limits. Eating seafood that is raw or undercooked exposes your developing child to dangerous bacteria, parasites, and mercury. It’s crucial to completely refrain from using these substances while pregnant because they pose risks to both you and your unborn child.

If you’re craving sushi, opt for rolls that don’t contain any raw fish, such as cucumber rolls or avocado rolls. You can also ask your sushi chef to cook the fish before putting it in your roll.

When you’re pregnant, it’s important to be extra careful about the food you eat. That’s because what you eat can directly affect your growing baby. Eating raw or undercooked fish can expose your baby to mercury, bacteria, and other harmful parasites.

Mercury is a metal that can be found in some types of fish. When mercury enters your bloodstream, it can pass to your baby and cause developmental problems. Studies have shown that babies exposed to high levels of mercury in utero are more likely to have delays in their cognitive development and motor skills.

In addition to mercury, raw or undercooked fish can also contain harmful bacteria and parasites. These can cause food poisoning, which can be very dangerous for both you and your baby.

To protect yourself and your baby, it’s important to only eat fish that has been cooked properly. If you’re unsure about whether a fish is safe to eat, ask your doctor or a registered dietitian. They can help you make the best choices for you and your baby.

Remember, it’s always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to eating sushi during pregnancy. When in doubt, skip it altogether and enjoy another pregnancy-safe food instead.

So what type of sushi should I eat or not eat?

The NRDC has prepared a list of sushi-friendly fish along with their mercury content. The majority of the primary fish used for sushi contain high amounts of mercury and should be completely avoided or used sparingly. If you have any additional inquiries about sushi, you should consult your doctor to get their advice.

Sushi with Higher Levels of Mercury

Avoid the following sushi while pregnant:

Ahi (yellowfin tuna)
Aji (horse mackerel)
Buri (adult yellowtail)

Hamachi (young yellowtail)
Inada (very young yellowtail)
Kanpachi (very young yellowtail)
Katsuo (bonito)

Kajiki (swordfish)
Maguro (bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)
Makjiki (blue marlin)
Meji (young bigeye, bluefin* or yellowfin tuna)

Saba (mackerel)
Sawara (Spanish mackerel)
Shiro (albacore tuna)
Seigo (young sea bass)*

Suzuki (sea bass)*
Toro (bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)

Pregnant women should steer clear of four fish that have the greatest mercury concentrations, according to the FDA. These consist of king mackerel, shark, swordfish, and tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico. The weekly allowance for albacore tuna should be 6 ounces.

Sushi with Lower Levels of Mercury

Enjoy up to two 6-oz servings a week:

Akagai (ark shell)
Anago (conger eel)
Aoyagi (round clam)
Awabi (abalone)
Ayu (sweetfish)

Ebi (shrimp)
Hamaguri (clam)
Hamo (pike conger; sea eel)
Hatahata (sandfish)
Himo (ark shell)

Hokkigai (surf clam)
Hotategai (scallop)
Ika (squid)
Ikura (salmon roe)
Kaibashira (shellfish)

Kani (crab)
Karei (flatfish)
Kohada (gizzard shad)
Masago (smelt egg)
Masu (trout)

Mirugai (surf clam)
Sake (salmon)
Sayori (halfbeak)
Shako (mantis shrimp)
Tai (sea bream)

Tairagai (razor-shell clam)
Tako (octopus)
Tobikko (flying fish egg)
Torigai (cockle)
Tsubugai (shellfish)

Unagi (freshwater eel)
Uni (sea urchin roe)

Mercury level categories:

The categories on the list are determined according to the following mercury levels in the flesh of the tested fish.

Lower Mercury: Less than 0.29 parts per million
High Mercury: More than 0.3 parts per million

Foods and Beverages You Should Avoid During Pregnancy

Some foods should only be eaten occasionally, while others should be altogether avoided. Here are some foods and drinks to avoid or consume in moderation when expecting.

Undercooked, raw, or contaminated seafood should be avoided

To avoid harmful bacteria or viruses in seafood:

Avoid raw fish and shellfish. The following foods should not be eaten raw or undercooked: sushi, sashimi, ceviche, oysters, scallops, and clams.
Avoid refrigerated, uncooked seafood. Nova style seafood, lox, kippered, smoked, or jerky are a few examples. If smoked seafood is a component of a casserole or other cooked meal, it is acceptable to consume it. Versions that are canned and shelf-stable are also secure.
Understand local fish advisories. Pay attention to regional fish warnings if you consume fish from nearby waters, especially if water pollution is an issue. Eat no more fish that week if you have any doubts about the security of the fish you have already consumed.

Cook seafood properly. Fish should be cooked to a temperature of 145 F. (63 C). Fish is considered to be finished when it flakes and becomes opaque all throughout. Cook the lobster, scallops, and shrimp until they are milky white. Oysters, mussels, and clams should be cooked until their shells open. If any don’t open, throw them away.

Undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs should be avoided

When you are pregnant, you have a higher risk of getting bacterial food poisoning. It is possible that your reaction would have been more severe if you were not pregnant. The effects of food poisoning on infants are rare.

To prevent foodborne illness:

Fully cook all meats and poultry before eating. Use a meat thermometer to make sure.
Cook hot dogs and luncheon meats until they’re steaming hot — or avoid them completely. They can be sources of a rare but potentially serious foodborne illness known as a listeria infection.

Avoid refrigerated pates and meat spreads. Canned and shelf-stable versions, however, are OK.
Cook eggs until the egg yolks and whites are firm. Raw eggs can be contaminated with harmful bacteria. Avoid foods made with raw or partially cooked eggs, such as eggnog, raw batter, and freshly made or homemade hollandaise sauce, and Caesar salad dressing.

Mercury-rich seafood should be avoided

Seafood can be a fantastic source of protein, and many fish contain omega-3 fatty acids that can help your baby’s brain and eye development. The mercury levels in some fish and shellfish, however, may be harmful. The developing neural system of your child could suffer from too much mercury.

The likelihood of mercury content increases with fish size and age. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you abstain from during pregnancy:

Bigeye tuna

King mackerel
Marlin
Orange roughy
Swordfish
Shark
Tilefish

What then is safe? Some varieties of seafood don’t have much mercury in them. Two or three servings of seafood per week, or 8 to 12 ounces (224 to 336 grams), are advised by the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Consider:

Anchovies
Catfish
Cod

Herring
Light canned tuna
Pacific oysters
Pollock
Salmon

Sardines
Shad
Shrimp
Tilapia
Trout

However, limit white (albacore) tuna to 6 ounces (168 grams) a week.

Don’t eat unpasteurized foods

Many low-fat dairy products, like skim milk, mozzarella cheese, and cottage cheese, might be beneficial to your diet. However, anything made with raw milk is forbidden. Foodborne sickness may result from these goods.

Unless they are clearly labeled as pasteurized or made with pasteurized milk, avoid soft cheeses like brie, feta and blue cheese. You should also avoid drinking juice that has not been pasteurized.

Don’t eat unwashed fruits and vegetables

All raw fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed to get rid of any dangerous bacteria. Steer clear of raw sprouts of any kind, including mung bean, alfalfa, clover, radish, and sprouts made from radish or radish. Ensure that sprouts are properly cooked.

Avoid excessive caffeine consumption

Although caffeine can pass the placenta, it is unclear how it will affect your unborn child. To be safe, your doctor may advise avoiding caffeine during pregnancy or limiting your intake to less than 200 milligrams (mg) per day.

For perspective, an 8-ounce (240-milliliters, or mL) cup of brewed coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine, an 8-ounce (240-mL) cup of brewed tea contains about 47 mg and a 12-ounce (360-mL) caffeinated cola contains about 33 mg.

Steer clear of herbal tea’s

Little information exists regarding the impact of certain herbs on unborn children. Therefore, refrain from consuming herbal tea unless your doctor approves of it, especially the kinds of herbal tea targeted specifically towards pregnant women.

Stay away from alcohol

There is no proven safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The best option is to completely avoid alcohol.

Analyze the dangers. Alcohol use increases the chance of stillbirth and miscarriage during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome, which can lead to facial abnormalities and intellectual incapacity, may also be brought on by alcohol consumption.

Consult your healthcare professional if you have any concerns about the alcohol you consumed before finding out you were pregnant or if you believe you need support to stop drinking.

Food poisoning can be dangerous for you and your baby

Food poisoning is a serious illness that can be very dangerous for pregnant women. In fact, food poisoning during pregnancy has been linked to several birth defects, stillbirths and infant mortality. If you have food poisoning during your pregnancy it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible so that your doctor can monitor the health of both you and your baby.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s especially important to avoid getting sick with food poisoning because you could pass the infection on to your baby if you become very ill during your pregnancy (or breastfeeding).

Types Of Food Poisoning

Pregnant women are more susceptible to foodborne illnesses for a few reasons. First, their immune systems are weaker than usual, making it harder for their bodies to fight off germs. Second, they tend to eat more often and have more contact with food, increasing the chances that they’ll come into contact with bacteria or other contaminants. Finally, pregnancy can change the way the body responds to food, making it more likely to develop an infection.

You can get food poisoning when you eat foods contaminated with:

Bacteria

Parasites
Viruses
Certain chemicals

There are many types of food poisoning. Some are more common, and more dangerous when you’re pregnant.

Listeriosis. This is caused by listeria bacteria. Listeria infection is 13 times more likely to affect pregnant women than other persons. It can be found in prepared foods like cold cuts and hot dogs. Additionally, dairy products, seafood, and poultry can also carry it, particularly if they haven’t been pasteurized. Even items that are chilled in the refrigerator can support its growth.

Toxoplasma. Toxoplasmosis is a common infection that is usually harmless. The chances of getting toxoplasmosis for the first time during pregnancy are thought to be very small. But if you get toxoplasmosis for the first time while you’re pregnant, or a few months before you conceive, there’s a small risk the infection could cause miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, or problems after the baby is born – this is very rare You won’t usually develop any obvious symptoms yourself.

Escherichia coli (E. coli). Your digestive system normally contains this bacteria. However, certain kinds of E. coli in unpasteurized milk and fruit juices can get you sick if you consume them, along with infected fruits and vegetables, raw or undercooked meats, and several other foods.

Norovirus. This type of virus can cause an infection called gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is a serious infection that can be deadly, especially for young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. The symptoms of gastroenteritis include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Norovirus is most often found in contaminated food. You can also get it if you eat food that has come into contact with vomit or feces. To reduce the risk of infection, you should wash your hands thoroughly after handling any food that may be contaminated with Norovirus. If you think you may have been exposed to Norovirus, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Salmonella. Salmonellosis is brought on by this bacteria. You typically contract it via eating unpasteurized food, raw or undercooked meats, eggs, or poultry. You can also contract it if you consume food that has come into contact with salmonella-infected soil or animal waste.

Campylobacter. The main way you get it is by eating contaminated chicken or unpasteurized foods. It can also be spread through contact with animals, such as cows, pigs, and sheep.

Symptoms of Food Poisoning During Pregnancy

It can be tricky to know when food poisoning is to blame for your sickness. Sometimes, germs from food can make you sick right away. Other times, they hang around in your body for days or even weeks before you have symptoms.

Usually, it causes:

Stomach pain

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach cramps
Dehydration

Often, food poisoning can feel like the flu, because you might have fever, headache, and body aches along with your other things.

Stomach pain
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach cramps

Often, food poisoning can feel like the flu, because you might have fever, headache, and body aches along with your other things.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention immediately as food poisoning can be serious, especially for pregnant women. If you are pregnant and develop food poisoning, you may be at risk for dehydration, which can be dangerous for both you and your baby. Therefore, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and seek medical attention as soon as possible.