Can I Eat Raw shellfish While Pregnant?
Best to avoidGeneral guidance from CDC. Please always check with your provider.
This is one to set aside for now: raw shellfish such as raw oysters and raw clams is best avoided throughout pregnancy.
Why
Per the CDC, raw and undercooked shellfish can carry Vibrio bacteria, norovirus, and listeria, and pregnancy lowers your immune defenses so these infections hit harder. Listeria in particular can cross the placenta and lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious infection in your newborn, even when you feel only mildly ill. Raw shellfish is risky no matter how fresh or high-quality it looks.
How to enjoy it safely
Enjoy the same shellfish fully cooked instead, with clams and mussels steamed until the shells open and oysters cooked until firm. If you are at a raw bar, choose a cooked preparation, and do not let raw shellfish juices touch foods you will eat uncooked.
When to ask your provider
If you ate raw shellfish before knowing you were pregnant, let your Garden OB/GYN provider know so they can advise you on any symptoms to watch for.
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.
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