Sushi & Raw Fish
Everyday exposureFood & drinkAlso called · 9 names▾▴
sushi in pregnancy, raw fish sushi, sashimi, nigiri, poke bowl, sushi roll, cooked sushi, vegetable roll, raw fish while pregnant
Fish
General information · effects depend on amount, timing, and how it is used. About these sources
Research strength: 3 / 5
CDC lists raw or undercooked fish or shellfish, including sushi, as a riskier choice, while FDA/EPA advise pregnant people not to eat raw fish such as sushi or sashimi because uncooked seafood can carry germs and parasites. FDA says freezing can kill some fish parasites but does not kill all harmful germs, and the NHS advises against raw-fish sushi even after prior freezing. CDC lists fish cooked to 145°F or until opaque as an alternative, and the NHS lists sushi made with cooked fish or cooked shellfish as a pregnancy option. The FDA pregnancy guide lists seafood cooked to 145°F separately from previously cooked seafood heated to 165°F; FoodSafety.gov applies 165°F to refrigerated smoked seafood cooked in a dish, not ordinary raw-fish sushi. Tam et al. (2010) gave more permissive advice for raw fish from reputable establishments, but current US and UK guidance is more cautious. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- FDA/EPA: Questions and Answers on Advice about Eating FishUS government
- FoodSafety.gov: People at Risk, Pregnant Women
- CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant WomenUS government
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancyUK government
- FDA: Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen SeafoodUS government
- Tam et al.: Food-borne illnesses during pregnancyUS government
Research strength: 3 / 5
CDC lists raw or undercooked fish or shellfish, including sushi, as a riskier choice, while FDA/EPA advise pregnant people not to eat raw fish such as sushi or sashimi because uncooked seafood can carry germs and parasites. FDA says freezing can kill some fish parasites but does not kill all harmful germs, and the NHS advises against raw-fish sushi even after prior freezing. CDC lists fish cooked to 145°F or until opaque as an alternative, and the NHS lists sushi made with cooked fish or cooked shellfish as a pregnancy option. The FDA pregnancy guide lists seafood cooked to 145°F separately from previously cooked seafood heated to 165°F; FoodSafety.gov applies 165°F to refrigerated smoked seafood cooked in a dish, not ordinary raw-fish sushi. Tam et al. (2010) gave more permissive advice for raw fish from reputable establishments, but current US and UK guidance is more cautious. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- FDA/EPA: Questions and Answers on Advice about Eating FishUS government
- FoodSafety.gov: People at Risk, Pregnant Women
- CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant WomenUS government
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancyUK government
- FDA: Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen SeafoodUS government
- Tam et al.: Food-borne illnesses during pregnancyUS government
Research strength: 3 / 5
CDC lists raw or undercooked fish or shellfish, including sushi, as a riskier choice, while FDA/EPA advise pregnant people not to eat raw fish such as sushi or sashimi because uncooked seafood can carry germs and parasites. FDA says freezing can kill some fish parasites but does not kill all harmful germs, and the NHS advises against raw-fish sushi even after prior freezing. CDC lists fish cooked to 145°F or until opaque as an alternative, and the NHS lists sushi made with cooked fish or cooked shellfish as a pregnancy option. The FDA pregnancy guide lists seafood cooked to 145°F separately from previously cooked seafood heated to 165°F; FoodSafety.gov applies 165°F to refrigerated smoked seafood cooked in a dish, not ordinary raw-fish sushi. Tam et al. (2010) gave more permissive advice for raw fish from reputable establishments, but current US and UK guidance is more cautious. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- FDA/EPA: Questions and Answers on Advice about Eating FishUS government
- FoodSafety.gov: People at Risk, Pregnant Women
- CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant WomenUS government
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancyUK government
- FDA: Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen SeafoodUS government
- Tam et al.: Food-borne illnesses during pregnancyUS government
Sushi & Raw Fish — Breastfeeding
Research strength: 2 / 5
CDC says breastfeeding mothers generally do not need to limit or avoid specific foods, apart from guidance on some seafood and caffeine. FDA/EPA includes breastfeeding people in its mercury-based fish-choice advice, while its raw-fish answer names pregnant people and children. FDA says raw seafood can contain parasites or harmful germs, and freezing does not remove all germs. No study has looked at sushi intake during breastfeeding. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Pregnancy
FDA/EPA's fish Q&A says pregnancy advice includes fish cooked to recommended internal temperatures and specifically includes raw fish in some sushi or sashimi among foods to skip. FoodSafety.gov's page, last reviewed 5 October 2026, says refrigerated smoked seafood should be cooked in a dish reaching 165°F (74°C). The FDA's 2022 pregnancy guide lists seafood cooked to 145°F separately from previously cooked seafood heated to 165°F. CDC's Jan. 31, 2025 table lists raw or undercooked fish or shellfish, including sashimi, sushi, and ceviche, as a riskier choice; it lists fish cooked to 145°F or until opaque and separating easily with a fork as an alternative. FDA's seafood guidance says freezing can kill parasites but does not kill all harmful germs. The NHS lists sushi made with raw fish, even if previously frozen, among pregnancy foods to avoid, while listing sushi made with cooked fish or cooked shellfish as an option. ACOG also advises against sushi made with raw fish and distinguishes cooked sushi. The FDA 2022 pregnancy food guide lists raw fish or shellfish, including sushi, separately from previously cooked seafood heated to 165°F and seafood cooked to 145°F. EFSA's 2010 page discusses freezing and heating treatments for Anisakis larvae, a parasite, and warns that the page may not reflect current information; it is not pregnancy-specific. Taylor et al. (2018) reviewed fish-consumption guidelines; it did not test health outcomes. Tam et al. (2010) gave more permissive advice, stating that raw fish need not be avoided if it came from a reputable establishment, was stored and handled properly, and was eaten soon after purchase. Current FDA/EPA and UK guidance is more cautious.
Breastfeeding
FDA/EPA's raw-fish Q&A addresses pregnant people and children; the same page includes breastfeeding people in separate mercury-based fish advice. The NHS fish page includes breastfeeding advice about mercury and fish intake, but its raw-shellfish food-poisoning advice is specifically about pregnancy; its raw-sushi restriction appears on a pregnancy page. FDA's general seafood page says raw fish can carry parasites or harmful germs and that freezing does not remove all germs, but this is not a milk-transfer finding. No direct human study of sushi or raw fish and breastfeeding outcomes was identified in the sources reviewed. These sources leave breastfeeding-specific compatibility uncertain.
Sushi varies by dish and may contain raw fish or shellfish, cooked seafood, egg, vegetables, and rice. FDA/EPA's raw-fish advice addresses germs and parasites in uncooked seafood. The NHS lists sushi made with cooked fish or cooked shellfish separately from sushi made with raw fish.
What was tested
The FDA/EPA, FoodSafety.gov, NHS, and ACOG pages are food guidance, not studies measuring outcomes after a particular sushi serving. Taylor et al. (2018) compared national and international fish-consumption guidelines and did not test health outcomes. EFSA's 2010 assessment discussed parasite control, including Anisakis, not sushi-related pregnancy outcomes. Tam et al. (2010) reviewed foodborne illness evidence and gave a contrary recommendation, while noting that seafood-related infection had not been well studied in pregnancy. No direct breastfeeding study of raw sushi was identified in the reviewed sources.
Whether raw fish sushi needs to be avoided during pregnancy
- Source A says
- FDA/EPA, CDC, FoodSafety.gov, NHS, and ACOG advise against raw fish or raw-fish sushi during pregnancy; NHS lists cooked-fish or cooked-shellfish sushi as an option. FDA says freezing can kill fish parasites but not all harmful germs. (FDA/EPA: Questions and Answers on Advice about Eating Fish, FoodSafety.gov: People at Risk, Pregnant Women, NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy, ACOG: Listeria and Pregnancy, FDA: Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen Seafood, CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women)
- Source B says
- Tam et al. (2010) wrote that pregnant women need not avoid raw fish when it comes from a reputable establishment, is stored and handled properly, and is eaten soon after purchase. (Tam et al.: Food-borne illnesses during pregnancy)
- Why they differ
- Tam et al. based the more permissive advice on improved screening and surveillance, reputable establishments, and proper storage and handling, while also noting that seafood-related infection had not been well studied in pregnancy. Current FDA/EPA and UK public guidance takes a broader precautionary approach to remaining germs and parasites. The difference reflects the age and scope of the sources and a different level of caution, not a direct trial comparing raw sushi with cooked sushi in pregnancy.
- What the evidence shows overall
- Current FDA/EPA, FoodSafety.gov, NHS, and ACOG guidance aligns on avoiding raw-fish sushi during pregnancy, and the NHS identifies cooked seafood sushi as an option. Tam et al. (2010) gives a different, older view but does not provide a direct pregnancy-outcome comparison. FDA explains that freezing does not remove all harmful germs, while parasite treatments address only particular hazards. The pregnancy rating remains guidance because the advice concerns raw seafood and cooked or vegetable sushi remains an alternative.
- The NHS lists sushi made with cooked fish or cooked shellfish among pregnancy food options. (NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy)
- FDA says most seafood should be cooked to 145°F and that freezing can kill fish parasites but does not kill all harmful germs. (FDA: Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen Seafood)
- FDA/EPA recommends 2 to 3 weekly servings from its lower-mercury Best Choices for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding; this is fish-consumption advice, not raw-sushi guidance. (FDA/EPA: Questions and Answers on Advice about Eating Fish)
Not enough research found yet.
Experiences from moms and non-medical voices. Not medical evidence.
- FDA/EPA: Questions and Answers on Advice about Eating FishUS governmentSecondary
- FoodSafety.gov: People at Risk, Pregnant WomenSecondaryPage dated 2026-10-05
- CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant WomenUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2025-01-31
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancyUK governmentSecondaryPage dated 2026-06-15Independent check
- ACOG: Listeria and PregnancyProfessional societySecondaryIndependent check
- FDA: Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen SeafoodUS governmentSecondary
- FDA: Food Safety for Pregnant Women, Unborn Babies, and Children Under FiveUS governmentSecondary
- NHS: Fish and shellfishUK governmentSecondaryPage dated 2026-06-26Independent check
- EFSA: Parasites in fishEU agencySecondaryPage dated 2010-04-14Independent check
- Tam et al.: Food-borne illnesses during pregnancyUS governmentSecondary
- Taylor et al.: A review of guidance on fish consumption in pregnancyUS governmentPrimaryPage dated 2018-03-26
- CDC: Maternal Diet and BreastfeedingUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2026-08-25
- CDC: People at Increased Risk for Listeria InfectionUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2025-09-24
Last reviewed 2026-10-18
Independent check 2026-10-18
Not yet clinician-reviewed
Ask your provider about your situation.