Can you eat sashimi while pregnant?
Not advisedNo, skip sashimi while pregnant. Raw fish can carry Listeria and parasites, and freezing the fish handles the parasites but not the bacteria.
Why
The CDC and FoodSafety.gov both put raw and undercooked fish, including sashimi, sushi, and ceviche, on the list of foods to avoid in pregnancy. The named risk is Listeria monocytogenes, which survives refrigeration and even sushi-grade freezing, multiplies slowly in chilled fish, and can cross the placenta to cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or a dangerous infection in a newborn, often while the pregnant person feels no worse than a mild flu. Raw fish can also carry parasites such as Anisakis, which commercial freezing does kill, so the freezing rule you may have read about answers only half the problem. Cooking fish to 145F handles both, and cooked fish stays one of the best things you can eat in pregnancy.
Safer alternatives
- Unagi nigiri, grilled freshwater eel served hot with sauce
- Ebi nigiri, shrimp that is cooked and butterflied before serving
- Tamago nigiri, the sweet cooked egg omelet
- California roll made with cooked kanikama crab stick and avocado
- Salmon teriyaki or grilled saba, cooked through
- Cucumber, avocado, or oshinko maki
Sources
- CDC https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/pregnant-women.html
- FoodSafety.gov (FDA) https://www.foodsafety.gov/people-at-risk/pregnant-women
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
Is sushi-grade or previously frozen sashimi safe in pregnancy?
Not for the Listeria risk. Sushi grade is not a legal standard, and the deep freezing behind it targets parasites, which it does kill. Listeria tolerates both freezing and refrigeration, which is why the CDC advice applies to frozen-then-thawed raw fish too.
I ate sashimi before I knew I was pregnant. Should I worry?
Most people who eat raw fish never get sick, so a single meal is very unlikely to have caused harm. Keep an eye out for fever, chills, body aches, or nausea over the following weeks, since listeriosis symptoms can take up to 70 days to appear. Tell your midwife or doctor if any of those turn up.
What can I order at a sushi restaurant instead?
Almost every menu has a cooked side: unagi, ebi, tamago, kanikama rolls, agedashi tofu, edamame, miso soup, and grilled fish sets. Ask for rolls made without raw fish and skip the spicy tuna and salmon versions. Rice, nori, wasabi, and pickled ginger are all fine.
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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.