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Can I eat fried fish while pregnant?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Fried fish, such as battered cod in fish and chips, fried tilapia or catfish, shows Check in Doola Scan in all six countries: it counts towards your weekly fish. The FDA lists cod, haddock, pollock, tilapia, whiting and catfish among its Best Choices, 2 to 3 servings a week. Australia is stricter on catfish: Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says no more than once a week, with no other fish that week. Canada and New Zealand set no weekly amount for low-mercury fish, and the NHS notes that frying adds fat, especially in batter.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Battered cod or haddock, as in fish and chips

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Fried tilapia or whiting

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Fried catfish

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Fried pollock in a fish sandwich

    CheckIn all six countries
Doola Scan checking a plate
What each country says

Fried fish while pregnant: what each country says.

Each country's own pregnancy guidance on fried fish, 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

    Check
    • FDAFish is recommended but amounts limit mercury exposure.Source
    • FDAOrange roughy is a Choice to Avoid (highest mercury).Source

  • United Kingdom

    Check
    • NHSTrying for a baby or pregnant: max 2 oily fish portions (140g) a week; tuna max 4 cans or 2 steaks a week.Source

  • Canada

    Check
    • Health CanadaLow-mercury fish encouraged with no weekly amount; limit only fresh/frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy, escolar.Source
    • Health CanadaOrange roughy: up to 150 g a month (pregnant, may become pregnant, breastfeeding); children 1-4: 75 g a month.Source

  • Australia

    Check
    • 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
    • FSANZThese fish are higher in mercury, which can affect a developing baby or young child.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Orange roughy (deep-sea perch) and catfish no more than once a week, with no other fish that week.Source

  • New Zealand

    Check
    • Health NZMost commonly eaten NZ fish can be eaten freely; low-mercury species need no restriction.Source
    • Health NZOrange roughy listed as needing no restriction; catfish not listed.Source
What to check

Before you eat fried fish.

  1. Fry until the fish flakes

    The FDA asks for most seafood cooked to 145°F, and says fish is done when it separates easily with a fork. Health Canada gives 70°C (158°F) for fish. FDA

  2. Count it in your weekly fish

    The FDA asks pregnant women to eat 2 to 3 servings a week from its Best Choices, a serving being 4 ounces. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says most fish 2 to 3 times a week, but catfish no more than once a week with no other fish that week. FDA

  3. Have fried fish some of the time

    The NHS says frying can increase the fat content of fish and shellfish, especially if they're cooked in batter, and suggests steamed, baked or grilled fish instead. NHS

Questions

About fried fish
in pregnancy.

The NHS suggests 2 portions of fish a week in pregnancy, one of them oily, and the FDA says fish supply omega-3 fats, iron, iodine and choline. The NHS also notes that frying adds fat, especially in batter, and suggests baked or grilled fish more often.

Battered cod or haddock shows Check in all six countries, for the weekly fish amount. For the chips, the NHS suggests oven chips lower in fat and salt.

Fried tilapia shows Check in all six countries. The FDA lists tilapia among its Best Choices, 2 to 3 servings a week.

Fried catfish shows Check in all six countries, but the amount differs. The FDA lists catfish as a Best Choice, while Australia's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says catfish no more than once a week, with no other fish that week.

Fried fish (pescado frito) such as cod or tilapia shows Check in Doola Scan in all six countries, for the weekly fish amount. Fry it until it flakes with a fork.

Fried tilapia (ikan nila goreng) shows Check in all six countries we cover. The FDA lists tilapia among its lowest-mercury Best Choices, 2 to 3 servings a week.

The NHS says cutting down on rich, spicy or fatty foods can ease heartburn and indigestion in pregnancy, as can eating smaller meals more often. If that doesn't help, it says to see your midwife or GP.

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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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.

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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.