Can you eat raw quail eggs while pregnant?
Not advisedNo, raw quail eggs are not safe in pregnancy. The NHS advises that any egg that is not a hen egg, including quail, duck and goose eggs, should always be cooked all the way through because of Salmonella.
Why
Hen eggs stamped with the British Lion mark are produced under a Salmonella vaccination scheme, which is why the NHS allows them raw or runny, and that protection does not extend to quail eggs. Quail eggs sit outside the scheme entirely, so the NHS and CDC both say to cook them until the white and yolk are firm. Salmonella in pregnancy means fever, vomiting and diarrhea, and the dehydration it causes can land you on an IV drip, so a raw quail egg on tartare, in a dipping sauce or balanced on a sushi roll is worth skipping.
Safer alternatives
- Hard-boiled quail eggs cooked until the yolk is firm, about 3 to 4 minutes
- Deep-fried or baked quail eggs on canapes
- British Lion stamped hen eggs if you want a runny yolk
- Pasteurized liquid egg for dressings and sauces
- Pickled quail eggs from a sealed jar
Sources
- NHS https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/
- CDC https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/pregnant-women.html
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
Are cooked quail eggs safe during pregnancy?
Yes, fully cooked quail eggs are fine and they are a good source of protein, choline and B12. Boil them until both the white and the yolk are solid, which takes roughly 3 to 4 minutes for an egg that small. The runny centre is the only part you need to avoid.
A ramen bowl came with a soft quail egg on top, what now?
Odds are you will be completely fine, since Salmonella is uncommon in any single egg. Keep an eye out for fever, cramping or diarrhea over the following days and contact your provider if they appear. When you order again, ask for the egg cooked hard or left off.
Why are quail eggs treated differently from hen eggs?
The difference is the farming scheme, not the bird. UK hen flocks under the British Lion mark are vaccinated against Salmonella and audited, so the NHS clears those eggs for runny use. Quail eggs have no equivalent programme, so the default advice is to cook them through.
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