Can I Eat Raw While Pregnant?
Best to avoidGeneral guidance from CDC. Please always check with your provider.
You can absolutely keep eggs in your diet during pregnancy, and a few simple cooking habits make them completely worry free.
Why
Raw and undercooked eggs can carry salmonella, a bacteria that may cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration, which can be harder on you and your baby during pregnancy. The CDC advises cooking eggs until both the yolk and white are firm, which means heating them to about 160 to 165F. The heat reliably destroys salmonella, so the risk comes from runny or raw preparations, not from eggs themselves.
How to enjoy it safely
Scramble, hard boil, or fry eggs until firm rather than leaving them runny or sunny side up. For recipes that traditionally use raw egg, reach for pasteurized eggs or pasteurized egg products, which are heat treated in the shell and safe to use uncooked.
When to ask your provider
Ask your Garden OB/GYN provider if you have had a recent foodborne illness or any concern about your protein and nutrition intake.
More foods that are best to avoid
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. It summarizes guidance from CDC, which can change, and individual situations vary, so please confirm with your Garden OB/GYN provider.
Questions about your pregnancy diet?
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