Can I eat onions while pregnant?
Doola Scan's answer in the United StatesOnions aren't on the pregnancy food lists of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland, so Doola Scan shows No known issues, raw or cooked. The one thing to check is the same as for any raw vegetable: wash them before eating, because soil can carry bacteria and toxoplasma. That goes for red onions, shallots and spring onions too.
Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · UpdatedCooked onions, in sauces, stir-fries or soups
No known issuesIn all six countriesRaw onions, in salads, salsa or burgers
No known issuesIn all six countriesSpring onions (scallions, green onions)
No known issuesIn all six countriesRed onions and shallots
No known issuesIn all six countriesOnion powder and dried onion
No known issuesIn all six countries
Onions while pregnant: what each country says.
Each country's own pregnancy guidance on onions, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.
No known issuesNone of the six countries' pregnancy guidance names onions.
United States
No known issuesWashing raw vegetables- FDAAvoid unwashed fresh vegetables, including lettuce and salads.Source
United Kingdom
No known issuesWashing raw vegetables- NHSSoil on produce can carry bacteria and toxoplasma.Source
Canada
No known issuesWashing raw vegetables- Health CanadaRinse delicate produce under cool running water; scrub firm produce.Source
Australia
No known issuesWashing raw vegetables- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Wash fruit, vegetables and herbs to remove soil (toxoplasma).Source
New Zealand
No known issuesWashing raw vegetables- Health NZWash and dry all fresh fruit and vegetables well just before eating.Source
Ireland
No known issuesWashing raw vegetables- HSEWash all fruit, vegetables and pre-packed salads before eating.Source
Before you eat onions.
Wash raw onions and spring onions
Peel off the dry skin, then rinse the onion under running water before you slice it. Spring onions grow close to the soil, so rinse them well, root end too. All six countries ask you to wash raw vegetables in pregnancy, because soil can carry bacteria and toxoplasma. NHS
Keep cut onion in the fridge
Once an onion is cut or peeled, keep it in the fridge and eat it within a few days, as with any cut produce. Wash produce before you cut it, not after. FDA
Look for recalls on pre-cut onions
Diced and pre-cut onions have been recalled in the US for Salmonella. Whole onions you cut yourself avoid that, and so does checking a recall notice before you buy pre-cut. FDA
Keep gas and bloating apart from safety
Pregnancy can make reflux, bloating and nausea more noticeable, and ACOG describes digestive discomfort as common in pregnancy. If raw onion doesn't sit well, try it cooked, have less, or skip it for now. That's a comfort choice, not a sign the onion is unsafe. ACOG
In salsa or deli salad, check the whole dish
In salsa, deli salad or a burger topping, the onion often isn't the main question. CDC pregnancy guidance puts extra attention on ready-to-eat foods where contamination or cold storage is unclear, so a raw egg dressing, deli meat, unpasteurized cheese, or a bowl that sat out may matter more. If you can't tell whether it stayed cold, choose a cooked option or skip that serving. CDC
About onions
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.