Can I eat cherries while pregnant?
Doola Scan's answer in the United StatesCherries aren't on the pregnancy food lists of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland, so Doola Scan shows No known issues for fresh and dried cherries and cherry juice. The guidance that applies is the one for all fresh fruit: all six countries ask you to wash it before eating, because soil can carry bacteria and toxoplasma. For juice, the FDA asks pregnant women to drink only pasteurised or otherwise treated juice. Black, red and Rainier cherries are the same fruit for the guidance.
Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · UpdatedFresh cherries: red, black or Rainier
No known issuesIn all six countriesDried cherries, in trail mix, cereal or baking
No known issuesIn all six countriesCherry juice
No known issuesIn all six countries
Cherries while pregnant: what each country says.
Each country's own pregnancy guidance on cherries, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.
No known issuesNone of the six countries' pregnancy guidance names cherries.
United States
No known issuesWashing fresh fruit- FDAAvoid unwashed fresh vegetables, including lettuce and salads.Source
United Kingdom
No known issuesWashing fresh fruit- NHSSoil on produce can carry bacteria and toxoplasma.Source
Canada
No known issuesWashing fresh fruit- Health CanadaRinse delicate produce under cool running water; scrub firm produce.Source
Australia
No known issuesWashing fresh fruit- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Wash fruit, vegetables and herbs to remove soil (toxoplasma).Source
New Zealand
No known issuesWashing fresh fruit- Health NZWash and dry all fresh fruit and vegetables well just before eating.Source
Ireland
No known issuesWashing fresh fruit- HSEWash all fruit, vegetables and pre-packed salads before eating.Source
Before you eat cherries.
Rinse cherries under running water
Rinse cherries in a colander under running water just before you eat them, and don't use soap or detergent. All six countries ask you to wash fresh fruit in pregnancy, and Health NZ asks for it to be washed and dried well just before eating. FDA
Throw out split or bruised cherries
Ripe cherries split and bruise easily. The FDA says bacteria can thrive in damaged or bruised areas, so cut those away or skip those cherries. FDA
Choose pasteurised cherry juice
The FDA asks pregnant women to read the label and drink only juice that has been pasteurized or otherwise treated. Health Canada says to bring unpasteurised juice to a rolling boil and cool it before drinking. FDA
About cherries
in pregnancy.
Not sure about a meal? Scan it.
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.
Download app nowDoola 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.