Can you eat fish and chips while pregnant?
SafeYes, fish and chips is safe during pregnancy. Cod, haddock and pollock are all low-mercury FDA Best Choices, and deep frying cooks the fillet right through.
Why
Mercury is the risk that decides whether a fish belongs in a pregnancy diet. The white fish that chip shops fry, cod, haddock and pollock, all sit on the FDA's Best Choices list, the lowest-mercury group, recommended at 2 to 3 servings a week. The NHS limits for pregnancy apply to oily fish and certain other species, not to cod or haddock. Batter and hot oil do not change the mercury picture. Frying also takes a thin fillet far past the 145 F that fish needs, so the Listeria and parasite concerns tied to raw or smoked fish do not apply. The chips are simply fried potatoes: a heavy, salty side is a nutrition point, not a safety one.
Safer alternatives
- Baked cod with oven fries
- Grilled haddock with a baked potato
- Oven-baked breaded pollock fillets
Sources
- FDA https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/advice-about-eating-fish
- NHS https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/fish-and-shellfish-nutrition/
Every verdict follows our sourcing methodology: official health guidelines only, most cautious position when they differ.
Last reviewed by the pregAI editorial team.
Frequently asked questions
Which fish is best for fish and chips when pregnant?
Cod, haddock and pollock are all on the FDA's Best Choices list for low mercury, so any of the three is a great order. They are also the fish most chip shops and frozen brands use.
Does fish and chips count toward my weekly fish servings?
Yes, one portion of battered cod or haddock counts as one serving of fish. The FDA suggests 2 to 3 servings a week from its Best Choices list, and the batter does not change that.
Are frozen battered fish fillets safe while pregnant?
Yes. Bake them following the package directions until the fish is hot and flakes easily in the center. They are usually made from pollock, cod or haddock, all low-mercury picks.
Related foods
All fish & seafood verdicts for pregnancy Browse all foods: can I eat this while pregnant?Get instant verdicts on any food
pregAI scans any dish, product or menu and answers in seconds, grounded in the same official sources.
Get instant verdicts on any foodpregAI is informational only and is not medical advice. Always check with your doctor or midwife about anything specific to your pregnancy.