Can You Eat Smoked Salmon When You Are Pregnant?

Most foods and drinks are safe to have during pregnancy. But there are some things you should be careful with or avoid.

Eating smoked salmon when you are pregnant is a controversial topic. A lot of pregnant women don’t know if it’s safe or if they should stay away from it altogether. I’ll break down the facts in this article to help you make a smart choice.

What is Smoked Salmon?

Smoked salmon is salmon that has been cured and hot or cold smoked The smoking process cooks the fish and gives it a distinctive smoky flavor,

There are two main types of smoked salmon

Hot-smoked salmon is fully cooked during the smoking process. It reaches an internal temperature of at least 145°F.
Cold-smoked salmon is cured but not cooked. It is smoked at a lower temperature, so it remains raw on the inside.

Why Pregnant Women Worry About Eating Smoked Salmon

There are a few potential concerns with eating smoked salmon during pregnancy:

Listeria – This bacteria can contaminate cold-smoked salmon and other raw seafood. Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and other complications.
Parasites – Raw or undercooked salmon may contain parasites like tapeworms. These can cause abdominal issues and nutrient deficiencies.
Mercury – Large fish like salmon can contain traces of mercury. Too much mercury during pregnancy can affect brain development.
Sodium – Smoked salmon is cured in salt, so it’s high in sodium. Excess sodium intake is linked to gestational hypertension.

So should you avoid smoked salmon altogether just to be safe? Not necessarily.

Is Smoked Salmon Safe During Pregnancy?

The risks of eating smoked salmon depend on the type and preparation method.

Hot-Smoked Salmon

Hot-smoked salmon is safe to eat during pregnancy as long as it was fully cooked to 145°F. The high heat kills any parasites, listeria, and other pathogens. Make sure the product is marked as hot-smoked, not cold-smoked.

Just be mindful of the sodium content if you have blood pressure concerns.

Cold-Smoked Salmon

Pregnant women should avoid cold-smoked salmon. Since it’s uncooked, it carries a high risk of listeria contamination.

Listeria is rare but very dangerous during pregnancy. Avoid all raw and undercooked seafood when you’re expecting.

Canned Smoked Salmon

Canned smoked salmon is shelf-stable and safe for pregnancy. The canning process involves high heat which destroys any bacteria or parasites. Just make sure the product is shelf-stable, not refrigerated.

Cooked Smoked Salmon

If you buy cold-smoked salmon, you can cook it thoroughly at home until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. This kills any lurking pathogens. Try making smoked salmon patties, dip, or eggs.

How To Enjoy Smoked Salmon Safely

Here are some tips for safely enjoying smoked salmon when pregnant:

Check the label and only buy smoked salmon marked “hot-smoked.”
Heat hot-smoked salmon to 165°F at home if you’re unsure it was fully cooked.
Opt for shelf-stable canned smoked salmon products.
Cook cold-smoked salmon thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F.
Limit your intake to 2-3 servings a week to minimize mercury exposure.
Choose lower-sodium options or rinse before use.
Avoid deli-style cold-smoked salmon and lox.

With the right precautions, you can safely enjoy smoked salmon during pregnancy. Hot-smoked and canned varieties are your best options. Be sure to heat these products thoroughly and limit your intake to a few servings a week. Avoid cold-smoked salmon unless you cook it yourself at home.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to weigh the small risks and decide what you’re comfortable with. If in doubt, you can always choose other low-mercury fish or protein foods instead. But with care, smoked salmon can be part of a healthy pregnancy diet.

can you eat smoked salmon when you are pregnant

What to be careful with

cured meats that are kept cold, like prosciutto, pepperoni, salami, and chorizo (unless they are fully cooked).

raw or undercooked meat
liver and liver products
all types of pâté, including vegetarian pâté
game meats such as goose, partridge or pheasant

Theres a small risk of getting toxoplasmosis if you eat raw and undercooked meat, which can cause miscarriage.

Cured meats are not cooked, so they may have parasites in them that cause toxoplasmosis.

Liver and liver products have lots of vitamin A in them. This can be harmful to an unborn baby.

Game meats may contain lead shot.

Fruits, vegetables and salads

Be careful with salads, fruits, and vegetables because they may have dirt on them that can make you sick.

Make sure to thoroughly wash all fruits, vegetables and salad ingredients.

You do not need to avoid eating peanuts when youre pregnant.

You should only stay away from peanuts if a doctor tells you to or if you have a nut allergy.

Do not take high-dose multivitamin supplements, or any supplements with vitamin A in them.

Can you eat raw salmon when pregnant?

FAQ

Is it okay to eat smoked salmon while pregnant?

To reduce the risk, pregnant women should avoid raw or undercooked fish such as cold-smoked salmon, as well as other food sources such as deli meats during pregnancy. To ensure Listeria is destroyed before consumption, users should heat even hot smoked salmon to 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) before eating.

Can I eat packaged salmon while pregnant?

Yes, Pregnant Women Can Eat Salmon and Other Low Mercury Fish. Many Americans do not eat adequate amounts of fish. However, the FDA recommends eating 8 to 12 ounces of fish low in mercury per week. That amounts to about 2 to 3 servings of fish per week, which can be eaten in place of other types of protein.

Is smoked salmon cooked or raw?

When salmon is hot smoked, the raw material is actually COOKED in the same way one would cook a piece of salmon in the oven. The result of this smoking method is a deliciously flaky product more similar to a roasted salmon fillet, but with the added flavor of smoke.

Is it safe to eat cold-smoked salmon?

Hence, the conversation around ‘raw’ salmon is really asking the question: is cold-smoked salmon safe to eat? In short, the answer is yes – but there are some crucial standards to ensure have been met with regards to your smoked salmon product.

Can pregnant women eat smoked salmon?

Salmon is considered low in mercury. Still, since some varieties are undercooked, you might wonder whether it’s safe to eat smoked salmon during pregnancy. This article explains whether pregnant women can safely eat smoked salmon. Smoked salmon is categorized as either cold- or hot-smoked depending on the specific curing method: Cold-smoked.

Can I eat cured salmon roe while pregnant?

Salmon roe are the eggs of salmon and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, important for the development of the brain and nervous system of the fetus. Cured salmon roe is generally found to be low in mercury and considered safe when eaten in small amounts during pregnancy. Some doctors and health officials may still recommend avoiding fish roe during pregnancy. Fortunately, there are other ways to consume the omega-3 fats that are healthy for both mom and baby, including salmon fillets and dietary supplements. If you consume salmon roe, it should come from a trustworthy source who has cured and handled it properly.

Is salmon good for pregnant women?

“Salmon is an excellent source of DHA or omega 3 fatty acids which have many benefits to developing the fetus as well as to the pregnancy, ” notes Daniel Roshan, MD, FACOG, FACS, a New York City-based board-certified high-risk maternal-fetal OBGYN.

Can a mom-to-be eat smoked salmon?

Both hot-smoked and cold-smoked salmon pose risks. The following are the potential side-effects of eating smoked salmon for a mom-to-be: Cold-smoked salmon and deli meat may harbor Listeria monocytogenes, a germ that causes foodborne illnesses.