Can you eat tuna while pregnant?
In moderationYes, with limits: canned light tuna up to 2 or 3 servings a week, or 1 serving of albacore. Skip bigeye tuna, which is too high in mercury.
Why
Tuna contains mercury, which can affect a baby's developing brain and nervous system in high amounts. The FDA sorts it by species: canned light tuna is a Best Choice (2 to 3 servings a week), albacore and yellowfin are Good Choices (1 serving a week, no other fish that week), and bigeye is on the avoid list. The NHS caps tuna at 4 cans or 2 steaks a week. Within those limits, tuna remains a healthy protein.
By trimester
Mercury builds up over time and the baby's brain develops throughout pregnancy, so the weekly limits matter in every trimester, ideally starting before conception.
Safer alternatives
- Cooked salmon
- Sardines
- Cooked shrimp
Sources
- FDA https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/advice-about-eating-fish
- NHS https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/
Every verdict follows our sourcing methodology: official health guidelines only, most cautious position when they differ.
Frequently asked questions
How much canned tuna can I eat while pregnant?
Canned light tuna: 2 to 3 servings (4 oz each) a week as part of your total fish intake. Canned albacore (white) tuna has about three times more mercury: keep it to 1 serving a week.
Can I eat a cooked tuna steak?
Yes, cooked through. Most tuna steaks are yellowfin or albacore, which are Good Choices: 1 serving that week, with no other fish. Skip bigeye, often sold for sushi.
Is raw tuna in sushi or poke safe?
No. Beyond mercury, raw fish carries a Listeria and parasite risk during pregnancy, so save ahi poke and tuna sashimi for after delivery.
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.