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Can I eat ceviche while pregnant?

Avoid Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Ceviche made with raw fish or raw shrimp cured in lime juice shows Avoid in Doola Scan in all six countries. The FDA and FoodSafety.gov name ceviche among the raw or undercooked seafood to avoid in pregnancy, and FSANZ in Australia lists it among raw fish dishes, asking pregnant women to avoid raw fish because of listeria. Ceviche made with shrimp that was cooked first shows Check, for the weekly seafood amount. On raw fish, the six countries agree.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Ceviche with raw fish, cured in lime juice

    AvoidIn all six countries

  • Shrimp ceviche made with raw shrimp

    AvoidIn all six countries

  • Ceviche made with shrimp cooked first

    CheckIn all six countries
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What each country says

Ceviche while pregnant: what each country says.

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

  • United States

    • Ceviche with raw fish, cured in lime juiceAvoid
    • Shrimp ceviche made with raw shrimpAvoid
    • Ceviche made with shrimp cooked firstCheck
    • FDAPregnant people should avoid raw fish, partially cooked seafood and refrigerated smoked seafood.Source
    • FoodSafety.gov (HHS)Avoid raw sushi, sashimi and ceviche; cook seafood to 145°F.Source
    • FDAFish is recommended but amounts limit mercury exposure.Source
    Raw onion, cilantro and other vegetables
    • FDAAvoid unwashed fresh vegetables, including lettuce and salads.Source

  • United Kingdom

    • Ceviche with raw fish, cured in lime juiceAvoid
    • Shrimp ceviche made with raw shrimpAvoid
    • Ceviche made with shrimp cooked firstCheck
    • NHSRaw fish can carry listeria and parasites.Source
    • NHSTrying for a baby or pregnant: max 2 oily fish portions (140g) a week; tuna max 4 cans or 2 steaks a week.Source
    Raw onion, cilantro and other vegetables
    • NHSSoil on produce can carry bacteria and toxoplasma.Source

  • Canada

    • Ceviche with raw fish, cured in lime juiceAvoid
    • Shrimp ceviche made with raw shrimpAvoid
    • Ceviche made with shrimp cooked firstCheck
    • CPSAvoid raw fish in pregnancy.Source
    • Health CanadaAvoid raw seafood such as sushi; cook seafood to 74 °C (165 °F).Source
    • Health CanadaLow-mercury fish encouraged with no weekly amount; limit only fresh/frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy, escolar.Source
    Raw onion, cilantro and other vegetables
    • Health CanadaRinse delicate produce under cool running water; scrub firm produce.Source

  • Australia

    • Ceviche with raw fish, cured in lime juiceAvoid
    • Shrimp ceviche made with raw shrimpAvoid
    • Ceviche made with shrimp cooked firstCheck
    • Better Health Channel (Victoria)Avoid sashimi and sushi.Source
    • FSANZAvoid raw/chilled RTE seafood: oysters, sushi, sashimi, ceviche. PBB: safest sushi is homemade.Source
    • NSW Food AuthorityDo not eat store-bought sushi; home-made without raw fish is OK.Source
    • NSW HealthDo not eat raw seafood.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)No raw or ready-to-eat fish such as sashimi and sushi.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Other fish or seafood no more than 2 to 3 times a week (150 g serve).Source
    Raw onion, cilantro and other vegetables
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Wash fruit, vegetables and herbs to remove soil (toxoplasma).Source

  • New Zealand

    • Ceviche with raw fish, cured in lime juiceAvoid
    • Shrimp ceviche made with raw shrimpAvoid
    • Ceviche made with shrimp cooked firstCheck
    • Health NZUnsafe for pregnant people: raw oysters, sashimi, sushi and other chilled seafood.Source
    • Health NZMost commonly eaten NZ fish can be eaten freely; low-mercury species need no restriction.Source
    Raw onion, cilantro and other vegetables
    • Health NZWash and dry all fresh fruit and vegetables well just before eating.Source

  • Ireland

    • Ceviche with raw fish, cured in lime juiceAvoid
    • Shrimp ceviche made with raw shrimpAvoid
    • Ceviche made with shrimp cooked firstCheck
    • HSEAvoid raw or smoked fish, including sushi.Source
    Raw onion, cilantro and other vegetables
    • HSEWash all fruit, vegetables and pre-packed salads before eating.Source
What to check

Before you eat ceviche.

  1. Skip ceviche made with raw fish or shrimp

    The FDA asks pregnant women to avoid raw or undercooked fish and shellfish, and names sashimi and ceviche. FoodSafety.gov lists raw sushi, sashimi and ceviche, and asks for seafood cooked to 145°F. FDA

  2. Make it with shrimp you cook yourself

    The FDA says shrimp is done when the flesh is pearly and opaque, and Health Canada gives 74°C (165°F) for shellfish. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says not to eat pre-cooked prawns, and cold pre-cooked shrimp shows Avoid in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, so cook raw shrimp rather than buying it cooked. FDA

  3. Wash the onion, cilantro and peppers

    All six countries ask for raw vegetables and herbs to be washed in pregnancy. Ceviche's onion, cilantro and chilli go in raw, so rinse them under running water before you chop them. FDA

Questions

About ceviche
in pregnancy.

Doola Scan reads ceviche as raw fish, and the FDA and FoodSafety.gov list it with sashimi among the foods to avoid in pregnancy. FSANZ says freezing raw fish for at least 7 days kills parasites but not harmful bacteria, and still asks pregnant women to avoid raw fish.

Shrimp ceviche made with raw shrimp shows Avoid in all six countries. Ceviche made with shrimp cooked first shows Check, for the weekly seafood amount; the FDA lists shrimp among its Best Choices.

Ceviche made with raw fish or shrimp (pescado o camarón crudo) shows Avoid in Doola Scan in all six countries, including the US. Ceviche made with shrimp cooked first (camarón cocido) shows Check.

The NHS lists sushi made with raw fish, even if previously frozen, as a food to avoid in pregnancy. FSANZ says freezing kills parasites but not bacteria such as listeria.

Poke made with raw fish shows Avoid in all six countries, like ceviche. None of these countries' food lists names aguachile; if its shrimp is raw, the raw seafood advice applies.

The guidance is the same in every trimester. Ceviche with raw fish shows Avoid from the first weeks to the third trimester.

The guidance asks you to avoid raw fish from now on. If you're worried, or you feel unwell, talk to your midwife or doctor.

Yes. Take a photo of the menu or the plate, and Doola Scan checks every ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance. 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.