Doola
Download app now

Can I eat ramen while pregnant?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Ramen noodles, pork or chicken broth and chashu pork belly aren't on the pregnancy food lists of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland; the soft-boiled ramen egg is what Doola Scan flags. With that egg, a bowl shows Check in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, and Avoid in Canada, where Health Canada asks for yolks cooked firm. Ramen with a hard-boiled egg or no egg, and instant ramen, show No known issues. The NHS limit of 6g of salt a day is worth a look on instant packets.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Tonkotsu or shoyu ramen with a soft-boiled egg

    CheckUnited StatesUnited KingdomAustraliaNew ZealandIrelandAvoidCanada

  • Ramen with a hard-boiled egg, or no egg

    No known issuesIn all six countries

  • Miso or chicken ramen

    No known issuesIn all six countries

  • Instant ramen from a packet or cup

    No known issuesIn all six countries
Doola Scan checking a plate
What each country says

Ramen while pregnant: what each country says.

Each country's own pregnancy guidance on ramen, 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

    • Tonkotsu or shoyu ramen with a soft-boiled eggCheck
    • Ramen with a hard-boiled egg, or no eggNo known issues
    • Miso or chicken ramenNo known issues
    • Instant ramen from a packet or cupNo known issues
    • FDACook eggs until yolk and white are firm; recipes with raw or runny eggs only with pasteurized eggs.Source
    • FDARaw eggs can carry salmonella.Source
    • FoodSafety.gov (HHS)Cook eggs until yolks and whites are firm; egg dishes to 160°F.Source
    Nori sheets on top
    • MotherToBabyVery high iodine from diet alone is unlikely unless high-iodine foods such as seaweed are eaten very often.Source
    Bean sprouts on miso ramen
    • FDASprouts grow in warm, humid conditions where bacteria thrive.Source
    • FoodSafety.gov (HHS)Cook sprouts thoroughly.Source
    • USDA FSISAvoid sprouts that are not fully cooked.Source

  • United Kingdom

    • Tonkotsu or shoyu ramen with a soft-boiled eggCheck
    • Ramen with a hard-boiled egg, or no eggNo known issues
    • Miso or chicken ramenNo known issues
    • Instant ramen from a packet or cupNo known issues
    • FSAWhen eating out, pregnant people should make sure eggs are thoroughly cooked, as they may not be British Lion or Laid in Britain.Source
    • NHSNon-Lion eggs are more likely to carry salmonella.Source
    • NHSBritish Lion or Laid in Britain hen eggs can be eaten raw or runny; other eggs only well-cooked.Source

  • Canada

    • Tonkotsu or shoyu ramen with a soft-boiled eggAvoid
    • Ramen with a hard-boiled egg, or no eggNo known issues
    • Miso or chicken ramenNo known issues
    • Instant ramen from a packet or cupNo known issues
    • CPSAvoid raw egg and egg dishes with runny yolk.Source
    • Health CanadaCook eggs until the yolks are firm; no exception for stamped or certified eggs.Source
    • Health CanadaCook eggs until yolks are firm; egg dishes to 74°C.Source
    Bean sprouts on miso ramen
    • CPSAvoid raw sprouts.Source
    • Health CanadaAvoid raw sprouts (alfalfa, clover, radish, mung bean); thoroughly cooked sprouts are the safer alternative.Source

  • Australia

    • Tonkotsu or shoyu ramen with a soft-boiled eggCheck
    • Ramen with a hard-boiled egg, or no eggNo known issues
    • Miso or chicken ramenNo known issues
    • Instant ramen from a packet or cupNo known issues
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Cook eggs until whites and yolks are hard; no runny-egg exception.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Cook eggs until whites and yolks are hard.Source
    Nori sheets on top
    • FSANZNo more than one serve a week of brown seaweed.Source
    Bean sprouts on miso ramen
    • 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

  • New Zealand

    • Tonkotsu or shoyu ramen with a soft-boiled eggCheck
    • Ramen with a hard-boiled egg, or no eggNo known issues
    • Miso or chicken ramenNo known issues
    • Instant ramen from a packet or cupNo known issues
    • Health NZCook eggs well (firm yolks); no raw eggs.Source
    • Health NZCook eggs well with firm yolks; raw-egg dishes: don't eat.Source
    Nori sheets on top
    • Health NZBrown seaweed limited to 1 serve a week; nori and other red/green seaweed OK; no label criterion.Source
    Bean sprouts on miso ramen
    • Health NZSeed sprouts: don't eat unless cooked.Source
What to check

Before you eat ramen.

  1. Ask for the egg cooked through, or leave it out

    The FDA asks for eggs cooked until the yolk and white are firm, and Health Canada asks for firm yolks with no exception. In the UK, the NHS says British Lion or Laid in Britain hen eggs can be eaten runny, but the FSA notes eggs eaten out may not be British Lion. FDA

  2. Read the salt on instant ramen

    Instant noodle packets list salt or sodium. The NHS says adults should have no more than 6g of salt a day, about 1 level teaspoon, so check how much one packet and its seasoning use. NHS

  3. Have bean sprouts cooked, not raw

    Health Canada asks pregnant women to avoid raw sprouts, including mung bean sprouts, and the FDA asks for sprouts to be thoroughly cooked. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says no raw or lightly cooked bean sprouts. Health Canada

Questions

About ramen
in pregnancy.

The pork broth and chashu pork belly show No known issues in Doola Scan in all six countries. The usual soft-boiled egg is Check in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, and Avoid in Canada, so ask for it hard-boiled or without it.

Instant noodles aren't named in these countries' pregnancy food lists, so Doola Scan shows No known issues. The NHS says adults should have no more than 6g of salt a day, and the packet shows how much one serving uses.

A ramen egg is soft-boiled with a jammy yolk. Doola Scan shows Check for it in five countries and Avoid in Canada. The US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand ask for the yolk to be firm, and the NHS accepts a runny yolk only from British Lion or Laid in Britain eggs.

Nori shows Check in all six countries under the seaweed and iodine rule. Health NZ limits brown seaweed to one serve a week and says nori and other red or green seaweed are OK.

The guidance is the same in every trimester. The egg, sprout and salt advice applies from the first weeks of pregnancy to the last.

None of these countries' pregnancy food lists names ramen as a good pregnancy food. The NHS asks for some protein-rich foods every day, such as eggs, lean meat and fish, which a bowl with egg or pork adds.

Los fideos y el caldo de ramen no aparecen en las listas de alimentos del embarazo de estos seis países. El huevo blando es Check, y Avoid en Canadá: pídelo duro o sin huevo.

Yes. Take a photo of the menu, the bowl or the packet, and Doola Scan checks each ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance. Food scans are free, 3 a day.
Doola Scan

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 now
More foods
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.