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Can I eat blueberries while pregnant?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Fresh blueberries aren't named in the pregnancy guidance of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland, so Doola Scan shows No known issues for them; frozen blueberries eaten uncooked get a Check. Health NZ asks for frozen berries to be cooked before eating, and Ireland's FSAI says to boil imported frozen berries for one minute. Food Standards Australia New Zealand lists frozen fruit as higher risk unless it's thoroughly cooked. For fresh blueberries, the check is the one for any fruit: rinse them first.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Fresh blueberries

    No known issuesIn all six countries

  • Frozen blueberries, in smoothies or straight from the bag

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Dried blueberries

    No known issuesIn all six countries

  • Blueberry jam and preserves

    No known issuesIn all six countries
Doola Scan checking a plate
What each country says

Blueberries while pregnant: what each country says.

Each country's own pregnancy guidance on blueberries, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.

  • Doola has no source from the United States on this yet; its answer comes from the other countries' guidance.

  • United States

    • Fresh blueberriesNo known issues
    • Frozen blueberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Dried blueberriesNo known issues
    • Blueberry jam and preservesNo known issues
    Washing fruit before eating
    • FDAAvoid unwashed fresh vegetables, including lettuce and salads.Source

  • United Kingdom

    • Fresh blueberriesNo known issues
    • Frozen blueberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Dried blueberriesNo known issues
    • Blueberry jam and preservesNo known issues
    • FSAFrozen vegetables must be thoroughly cooked before eating, including in cold salads or smoothies unless the pack says otherwise.Source
    • NHSCook frozen vegetables until steaming hot.Source
    • NHSCook or reheat food, including frozen vegetables, until steaming hot right through.Source
    Washing fruit before eating
    • NHSSoil on produce can carry bacteria and toxoplasma.Source

  • Canada

    • Fresh blueberriesNo known issues
    • Frozen blueberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Dried blueberriesNo known issues
    • Blueberry jam and preservesNo known issues
    • Health CanadaCook frozen vegetables before eating unless the maker says otherwise.Source
    • Health CanadaCook frozen vegetables per package directions before eating.Source
    Washing fruit before eating
    • Health CanadaRinse delicate produce under cool running water; scrub firm produce.Source

  • Australia

    • Fresh blueberriesNo known issues
    • Frozen blueberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Dried blueberriesNo known issues
    • Blueberry jam and preservesNo known issues
    • FSANZFrozen produce eaten uncooked is higher risk for listeria and other foodborne illness.Source
    • NSW HealthFrozen vegetables only if cooked.Source
    • FSANZFrozen fruit and vegetables are higher risk; eat thoroughly cooked frozen product.Source
    Washing fruit before eating
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Wash fruit, vegetables and herbs to remove soil (toxoplasma).Source

  • New Zealand

    • Fresh blueberriesNo known issues
    • Frozen blueberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Dried blueberriesNo known issues
    • Blueberry jam and preservesNo known issues
    • Health NZFrozen vegetables: cook; frozen berries cooked before eating.Source
    • Health NZFrozen vegetables: cook, don't eat uncooked; frozen berries cooked before eating.Source
    Washing fruit before eating
    • Health NZWash and dry all fresh fruit and vegetables well just before eating.Source

  • Ireland

    • Fresh blueberriesNo known issues
    • Frozen blueberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Dried blueberriesNo known issues
    • Blueberry jam and preservesNo known issues
    • FSAIBoil imported frozen berries for one minute before eating.Source
    • HSECook frozen vegetables until steaming hot.Source
    Washing fruit before eating
    • HSEWash all fruit, vegetables and pre-packed salads before eating.Source
What to check

Before you eat blueberries.

  1. Cook or boil frozen blueberries before eating

    Health NZ asks for frozen berries to be cooked before eating. Ireland's FSAI says to boil imported frozen berries for one minute, which destroys viruses if present; it gives the advice after norovirus and hepatitis A outbreaks linked to imported frozen berries in Europe. FSAI

  2. Treat frozen blueberries in smoothies the same way

    Food Standards Australia New Zealand lists frozen fruit as higher risk, with freshly prepared fruit or thoroughly cooked frozen product as the alternatives. Frozen blueberries blended straight from the bag aren't cooked, which is what the frozen-berry advice from Health NZ, FSANZ and the FSAI is about. FSANZ

  3. Rinse fresh blueberries just before eating

    Tip them into a colander and rinse under running water, without soap. Health NZ asks you to wash and dry all fresh fruit well just before eating. Health NZ

Questions

About blueberries
in pregnancy.

Doola Scan shows No known issues for jam, and blueberry preserves aren't named in any of the six countries' pregnancy guidance. The NHS asks you to have foods high in sugar less often and in small amounts, and counts fresh, frozen, canned, dried and juiced fruit towards your 5 a day.

Doola Scan shows Check for frozen blueberries in all six countries. Health NZ asks for frozen berries to be cooked before eating, Ireland's FSAI says to boil imported frozen berries for one minute, and FSANZ lists uncooked frozen fruit as higher risk.

The NHS asks for at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day in pregnancy, and says they provide vitamins, minerals and fibre, which helps digestion. Blueberries count towards them.

Fresh blueberries aren't named in the pregnancy guidance of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland. Rinse them before eating. Frozen ones are different: New Zealand and Ireland ask you to cook or boil frozen berries first.

The guidance is the same in every trimester. Fresh blueberries aren't named in it, and the frozen-berry advice applies all through pregnancy.

Health NZ asks for frozen berries to be cooked before eating, and FSANZ names thoroughly cooked frozen fruit as the alternative to frozen fruit eaten as it is. Berries baked through in a muffin or pancake are cooked. Doola Scan checks the rest of the recipe when you scan it.

Dried blueberries aren't named in these countries' pregnancy guidance, so Doola Scan shows No known issues. The NHS counts dried fruit towards your 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

Yes. Take a photo of the plate, the menu or the label, and Doola Scan checks every ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance, frozen berries included. Food scans are free, 3 a day.
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Point Doola at a plate, a menu or a label. It checks every ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance and shows its sources. Food scans are free, 3 a day.

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Doola shows what official guidance says; it never diagnoses. No known issues means none of these countries' pregnancy guidance names it, not a promise that a food is safe.