Can I eat Chinese food while pregnant?
3 to check
Doola Scan's answer in the United States
Doola Scan's answer in the United StatesChinese stir-fries with chicken, beef or vegetables, steamed rice, chow mein, dumplings and egg rolls show No known issues in Doola Scan in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Three usual dishes show Check in all six: fried rice made with leftover rice, because the NHS asks for cooked rice to be cooled within an hour and kept in the fridge; prawn dishes, which count toward your fish for the week; and tofu dishes, under the soy rule. Soy sauce and MSG aren't on these countries' pregnancy food lists.
Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · UpdatedChicken, beef or vegetable stir-fry with steamed rice
No known issuesIn all six countriesChow mein and lo mein noodles
No known issuesIn all six countriesDumplings and egg rolls
No known issuesIn all six countriesFried rice made with leftover rice
CheckIn all six countriesPrawn and shrimp dishes
CheckIn all six countriesMapo tofu and other tofu dishes
CheckIn all six countries
What each country says
Chinese food while pregnant: what each country says.
Each country's own pregnancy guidance on Chinese food, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.
Doola has no source from Ireland on this yet; its answer comes from the other countries' guidance.
United States
- Chicken, beef or vegetable stir-fry with steamed riceNo known issues
- Chow mein and lo mein noodlesNo known issues
- Dumplings and egg rollsNo known issues
- Fried rice made with leftover riceCheck
- Prawn and shrimp dishesCheck
- Mapo tofu and other tofu dishesCheck
- FDARefrigerate within 2 hours, keep cooked meat or poultry leftovers 3 to 4 days, reheat leftovers to 165°F.Source
- FDAFish is recommended but amounts limit mercury exposure.Source
- MyHealthfinder (HHS)Soy is listed among recommended protein foods and fortified soy milk or yogurt among dairy options in pregnancy.Source
- NCCIH (NIH)Soy may be unsafe in pregnancy only in amounts greater than those commonly found in foods.Source
- MyHealthfinder (HHS)Soy and fortified soy milk or yogurt are listed as healthy pregnancy foods with no limit.Source
Bean sproutsGreen or jasmine tea with the meal- ACOGModerate caffeine (less than 200 mg a day) does not cause miscarriage or preterm birth.Source
- FDANo set pregnancy limit; talk to your health care provider about whether to limit caffeine.Source
- MyHealthfinder (HHS)Limit caffeine; ask your doctor if caffeine is safe for you, or try decaf.Source
- ACOGModerate intake is not a major factor in miscarriage or preterm birth.Source
United Kingdom
- Chicken, beef or vegetable stir-fry with steamed riceNo known issues
- Chow mein and lo mein noodlesNo known issues
- Dumplings and egg rollsNo known issues
- Fried rice made with leftover riceCheck
- Prawn and shrimp dishesCheck
- Mapo tofu and other tofu dishesCheck
- FSABacteria grow if food is warmed rather than heated through.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
- NHSSoya drinks and yoghurts are fine in pregnancy; choose unsweetened, calcium-fortified versions.Source
- NHSSoya drinks and yoghurts are fine in pregnancy with no amount limit; choose unsweetened, calcium-fortified.Source
Canada
- Chicken, beef or vegetable stir-fry with steamed riceNo known issues
- Chow mein and lo mein noodlesNo known issues
- Dumplings and egg rollsNo known issues
- Fried rice made with leftover riceCheck
- Prawn and shrimp dishesCheck
- Mapo tofu and other tofu dishesCheck
- Health CanadaEat refrigerated leftovers within 2 to 3 days; reheat to 74°C.Source
- Health CanadaLow-mercury fish encouraged with no weekly amount; limit only fresh/frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy, escolar.Source
Bean sprouts
Australia
- Chicken, beef or vegetable stir-fry with steamed riceNo known issues
- Chow mein and lo mein noodlesNo known issues
- Dumplings and egg rollsNo known issues
- Fried rice made with leftover riceCheck
- Prawn and shrimp dishesCheck
- Mapo tofu and other tofu dishesCheck
- Better Health Channel (Victoria)Avoid leftover meats refrigerated more than a day unless reheated.Source
- FSANZVulnerable people: eat refrigerated leftovers within 1 day; reheat to 75 °C steaming hot.Source
- NSW Food AuthorityLeftovers in the fridge, eaten within a day and reheated to at least 60°C.Source
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Store leftovers in the fridge and use them within a day of cooking.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
Bean sprouts- NSW HealthDo not eat sprouted seeds.Source
- Better Health Channel (Victoria)Avoid raw or lightly cooked sprouts.Source
- FSANZAvoid raw seed sprouts; thoroughly cooked sprouts OK. PBB: any raw or lightly cooked bean sprouts.Source
- NSW Food AuthorityDo not eat sprouts raw or lightly cooked.Source
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)No raw or lightly cooked bean sprouts.Source
Green or jasmine tea with the meal- Better Health Channel (Victoria)Limit caffeine to 200 mg a day or less, or avoid it.Source
- FSANZNo more than 200 mg caffeine a day from all sources.Source
- healthdirectLimit caffeine to 200 mg a day when pregnant.Source
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Maximum 200 mg caffeine per day (total) in pregnancy.Source
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Maximum 200 mg/day.Source
New Zealand
- Chicken, beef or vegetable stir-fry with steamed riceNo known issues
- Chow mein and lo mein noodlesNo known issues
- Dumplings and egg rollsNo known issues
- Fried rice made with leftover riceCheck
- Prawn and shrimp dishesCheck
- Mapo tofu and other tofu dishesCheck
- Health NZStore leftover cooked or canned food in fridge and use within 2 days (Health NZ listeriosis page: 24 hours).Source
- Health NZMost commonly eaten NZ fish can be eaten freely; low-mercury species need no restriction.Source
- Health NZCalcium-fortified soy milk and tofu recommended as calcium/protein sources in pregnancy.Source
- Health NZFortified soy milk and tofu recommended with no amount limit.Source
Bean sprouts- Health NZSeed sprouts: don't eat unless cooked.Source
Ireland
- Chicken, beef or vegetable stir-fry with steamed riceNo known issues
- Chow mein and lo mein noodlesNo known issues
- Dumplings and egg rollsNo known issues
- Fried rice made with leftover riceCheck
- Prawn and shrimp dishesCheck
- Mapo tofu and other tofu dishesCheck
Green or jasmine tea with the meal- HSELimit caffeine to 200 mg a day (2 instant coffees, 1 filter coffee, 2-4 teas); limit energy drinks.Source
What to check
Before you eat Chinese food.
Have rice served freshly cooked
The NHS says to serve rice as soon as it's cooked, or cool it within 1 hour and keep it in the fridge. It says to throw away rice left at room temperature overnight, because reheating does not get rid of the toxins bacteria can make. Leftover takeaway rice is reheated rice. NHS
Reheat leftovers once, until steaming hot
The FSA asks for leftovers to be cooled and refrigerated within 2 hours, eaten within 48 hours and reheated only once, until steaming hot throughout. FSANZ asks vulnerable people to eat refrigerated leftovers within a day and reheat them to 75°C. FSA
Ask for bean sprouts cooked through
Health Canada asks pregnant women to avoid raw sprouts, including mung bean sprouts, and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says no raw or lightly cooked bean sprouts. Doola Scan shows Avoid for them in Australia. Health Canada
Count prawns in your fish for the week
The FDA lists shrimp among its Best Choices, 2 to 3 servings a week in pregnancy. The NHS lists cooked shellfish, prawns included, among the foods you can have. FDA
QuestionsAbout Chinese food
About Chinese food
in pregnancy.
Most of the usual menu shows No known issues: stir-fries, steamed rice, chow mein, dumplings and egg rolls. Fried rice made from leftover rice, prawn dishes and tofu dishes show Check, and raw bean sprouts are Avoid in Australia.
Fried rice made with leftover rice shows Check in all six countries. The NHS asks for cooked rice to be cooled within 1 hour and kept in the fridge, and to be thrown away if left out overnight.
MSG isn't on the pregnancy food lists of these six countries, so Doola Scan shows No known issues for it. Soy sauce shows No known issues too.
Steamed dumplings and egg rolls show No known issues, and prawn dumplings show Check for the prawns, which count toward your fish for the week.
Manchurian isn't named in these six countries' pregnancy food lists. Its usual ingredients, cauliflower or chicken, cabbage, soy sauce and chili sauce, show No known issues in Doola Scan.
Noodles, chicken, cabbage and soy sauce show No known issues in Doola Scan in all six countries. Bean sprouts, if added, should be cooked through: Health Canada asks pregnant women to avoid raw sprouts.
Los salteados, el arroz recién hecho, los fideos y las empanadillas muestran No known issues en Doola Scan. El arroz frito con arroz sobrante, las gambas y el tofu muestran Check.
Yes. Take a photo of the menu and Doola Scan marks each dish against your country's pregnancy guidance, with what to ask. Menu scans are part of Premium.
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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.
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.