Ah, ceviche. It’s true that this citrusy seafood dish tastes great, but is it something you should eat while you’re growing a baby?
Ceviche comes from Peru and is a popular dish in many Latin American countries. In fact, some people eat it every day.
Ceviche during pregnancy is listed by pretty much all doctors as definitely one to avoid while pregnant.
No, it’s not cooked in the traditional sense using heat, and this is where the problem lies.
A lot of lists of foods to avoid while pregnant include raw fish, and ceviche is no different.
Ceviche the popular Latin American appetizer made from fresh raw seafood marinated in citrus juice can be a craving for many pregnant women. However, with its use of raw fish, ceviche does present some risks during pregnancy that need to be considered. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at whether it’s safe to eat shrimp ceviche while pregnant, the potential risks, and some safer alternative options to satisfy your spicy seafood cravings.
An Overview of Ceviche and Its Use of Raw Seafood
Ceviche is a dish originating from Latin American coastal regions that consists of raw fish, shrimp, or other seafood cured in citrus juices like lemon and lime Other ingredients like onions, chiles, cilantro, tomatoes and various seasonings are also commonly added.
The acid from the citrus juice causes the proteins in the seafood to denature, appearing to “cook” it without heat. However, this reaction does not actually kill bacteria or parasites like fully cooking seafood does. So ceviche still carries the same risks as eating raw fish or shrimp.
This is why ceviche is usually not recommended during pregnancy The two main concerns around consuming raw seafood while pregnant are
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Food poisoning – Raw seafood has a higher risk of harboring harmful bacteria like salmonella, vibrio, and Listeria that can lead to foodborne illness. For pregnant women, food poisoning poses greater risks like dehydration, fever, miscarriage, and preterm labor.
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Parasites – Raw shrimp and fish can contain dangerous parasitic organisms like tapeworms. If contracted during pregnancy, some parasites can be passed to the developing baby and cause congenital infections.
So while ceviche may appear “cooked” from the citrus juice, it does not provide the same safety as fully cooking seafood through high heat methods like grilling, boiling, or baking.
Can Pregnant Women Eat Shrimp Ceviche?
The overall consensus from health organizations is to avoid ceviche and any other raw or undercooked seafood while pregnant. The risks simply outweigh any potential benefits.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises pregnant women to avoid raw or undercooked fish and shellfish due to risk of foodborne illnesses. This includes popular raw seafood dishes like ceviche, sushi, and oysters on the half shell.
The FDA also recommends only eating fully cooked seafood during pregnancy. Their advice is to cook shrimp and other shellfish to an internal temperature of 145°F to kill any potential bacteria or parasites they may carry.
So while cooked shrimp on its own can be safely enjoyed during pregnancy, shrimp ceviche specifically should be avoided. The shrimp is not fully cooked in ceviche, so it may still pose a food poisoning risk.
What Are Some Health Risks of Eating Shrimp Ceviche While Pregnant?
Here are some specific health risks and complications that can occur from eating raw shrimp ceviche while pregnant:
Food poisoning – Eating undercooked or raw shrimp puts pregnant women at risk for contracting foodborne illnesses like salmonella, vibrio, hepatitis A, and Listeria. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever are common symptoms that can lead to dehydration and hospitalization for expecting mothers.
Listeriosis – Listeria infection is especially concerning during pregnancy as it can cross the placenta and infect the fetus. This bacterial infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm labor, and even neonatal sepsis in newborns.
Parasitic infection – Raw shrimp may contain parasites like tapeworms, roundworms, or flatworms that can be passed to the developing baby and cause congenital infections. Symptoms depend on the parasite but may include issues like blindness, seizures, liver damage, or rashes at birth.
Mercury exposure – Larger, predatory fish at the top of the food chain can accumulate higher mercury levels. Consuming too much mercury while pregnant may impair fetal brain and nervous system development. However, small shrimp usually have low mercury levels so this is less of a concern with ceviche.
Allergic reaction – Some pregnant women may discover new food allergies during pregnancy, including shellfish allergies. Eating shrimp ceviche could potentially trigger a serious systemic allergic reaction.
While the odds of contracting a foodborne illness from ceviche may not be extremely high, even a small risk of complications like miscarriage, congenital infection, or stillbirth make it advisable for pregnant women to avoid ceviche and only eat fully cooked shrimp.
Are There Any Potential Benefits to Eating Ceviche During Pregnancy?
Ceviche can be a good source lean protein, vitamins, and minerals when made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. However, the same nutritional benefits can be obtained by eating cooked shrimp or fish during pregnancy without the safety concerns. The minimal vitamins gained from ceviche are simply not worth the potential health risks.
That said, here are some of ceviche’s nutritional components that would be beneficial during pregnancy – but again these should ideally come from fully cooked seafood sources instead:
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Lean protein – Fish and shrimp provide lean, low-fat protein which expecting mothers need for baby’s cell growth and maternal blood volume expansion.
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Omega-3s – Seafood is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids like DHA. These support fetal brain, eye, and neurological development.
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Iron – Fish and shrimp contain heme-iron which is more easily absorbed than plant sources. Iron prevents pregnancy anemia.
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Zinc – Shellfish provide zinc which aids fetal cell division, immunity development, and enzyme function.
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Vitamin C – The citrus juice in ceviche offers vitamin C. This helps absorb iron and supports maternal and fetal immune health.
Simply put, while these nutritional components would be beneficial during pregnancy, cooked seafood provides the same benefits without the safety risks. All health organizations warn against any raw seafood consumption while pregnant.
When Is It Safe to Eat Ceviche After Pregnancy?
The good news is ceviche lovers do not have to avoid this appetizer forever! Once baby is born, it is safe for new mothers to resume eating ceviche and raw seafood again.
According to the FDA, ceviche and other raw fish dishes are fine for women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding. Those who have given birth recently can feel comfortable eating ceviche again.
That said, anyone with a compromised immune system may still want to exercise caution with raw seafood. And women who are breastfeeding do need to be mindful that any foodborne illnesses contracted from ceviche could pass through breastmilk to their infant.
Overall though, ceviche is back on the menu for moms after pregnancy. If you had to miss out on ceviche for 9 months, celebrate by treating yourself to this bright, citrus-kissed dish after delivering your little one! Just be sure to choose high-quality, extremely fresh seafood from a reputable restaurant or market.
Healthier Alternatives to Enjoy During Pregnancy
While ceviche is off-limits until after birth, there are still many tasty ways for pregnant women to meet their seafood cravings without compromising their health. Here are some healthier alternatives to enjoy while expecting:
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Fully cooked shrimp – Boiled, grilled, or baked shrimp provides the same nutrients without the raw risks. Enjoy peeled cooked shrimp in a salad, pasta, or tacos.
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Ceviche-style shrimp salad – For the flavor of ceviche, use pre-cooked shrimp and “cook” it in lime juice with tomatoes, onion, cilantro and avocado on top of lettuce or cabbage slaw.
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Cooked fish – Opt for fully cooked fish like salmon, cod or tilapia baked en papillote, grilled, or pan-seared.
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Canned seafood – Choose shelf-stable options like canned tuna or salmon which have already been cooked during the canning process.
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Crab cakes or fishcakes – Try these delicious seafood cakes made from cooked crab or fish instead of raw ceviche.
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Seafood chowders – Creamy seafood stews like Manhattan clam chowder provide warmth and richness from cooked seafood.
The key is choosing recipes where you can confirm the fish or shrimp is fully cooked through. This eliminates the risks of food poisoning while still providing all the nutritional benefits. With so many options for cooked seafood, it’s easy to find pregnancy-safe alternatives to satisfy your ceviche cravings.
The Bottom Line
While ceviche’s use of raw seafood provides lean protein and nutrients, it also poses a risk of foodborne illnesses for pregnant women and their developing babies. The consensus among health organizations is to avoid ceviche and any other raw or undercooked fish and shellfish while expecting.
Sticking to thoroughly
Can I eat shrimp cooked in lime while pregnant?
So, ceviche is raw fish or shellfish that has been “cooked” in lime or lemon juice, which changes the way the proteins in the meat are structured.
The acid makes the fish turn opaque and firm, resembling cooked fish, but it’s not actually cooked.
The problem is that “cooking” fish in citrus juice only changes the outside, not the inside, and it doesn’t kill bacteria like heat does.
Common parasites like worms live deep in the flesh of fish, and some bacteria like salmonella are resistant to citric acid, so cooking in lime juice won’t get rid of them.
What are the risks of eating ceviche while pregnant?
Here are some risks that you should be aware of if you want to make your own decision about whether or not to eat ceviche while you are pregnant.
Generally speaking, the risks of eating ceviche come down to the presence of nasty parasites and bacteria, like listeria and salmonella, found in raw fish.
Unfortunately for the ceviche-enjoying population, fish that are commonly used in ceviche—like Corvina, tilapia, shrimp, sea bass, cod, and halibut—are highly likely to contain parasites.
Also, pregnant women are at a much higher risk of contracting food poisoning than the general population, thanks to that lowered immune system.
Listeriosis, the illness caused by the bacteria listeria, can present as late as two months after eating infected food and can cause:
- Fever
- An upset stomach with vomiting and diarrhea
- Headaches
- Confusion
- A stiff neck
- Loss of balance.
It can put you at risk of dehydration, and even premature birth, stillbirth, or miscarriage.
If the bacteria gets into your unborn child, it can damage their brain, heart, and kidneys for life, and it could even blind or paralyze them.
Not to completely freak you out, but listeriosis is definitely something to avoid.
TPP: Pregnancy Friendly Ceviche
Can I eat ceviche If I’m Pregnant?
Similarly, ceviche contains raw fish with pathogens that can be dangerous if eaten too often. However, be sure to avoid uncooked ceviche when you’re pregnant. Make sure that you do avoid ceviche made from fish that has been frozen first (as contrasted to fresh), or else you risk dealing with tapeworms that may cause pain and vomiting.
Is it safe to eat crab meat during pregnancy?
It is safe to eat crab meat during pregnancy as long as it comes from a reliable source, with appropriate hygienic and sanitary conditions for pre-preparation, preparation and packaging of this food.
Can you eat raw shrimp in ceviche?
Yes, it is completely safe to use raw shrimp in ceviche. The acidity in the lime cooks the shrimp, so you’re not actually eating raw shrimp at all. You can watch the shrimp turn from translucent to opaque in just a few minutes. How long after eating undercooked shrimp make you sick?
Can pregnant women eat shrimp?
Yes, pregnant women can, in fact, eat shrimp. That doesn’t mean it should become your go-to daily meal, but it does mean you and baby can benefit from some of the great nutrients in shrimp. Let’s look a little more closely at some of the recommendations for eating shrimp and other seafood during pregnancy, as well as a few safety precautions.