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Can I eat runny egg while pregnant?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Runny eggs show Check in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, and Avoid in Canada, where Health Canada asks for yolks cooked firm with no exception for stamped eggs. The US, Australia and New Zealand also ask for firm yolks, or pasteurised eggs in the US. The UK is the exception: the NHS accepts runny yolks from British Lion or Laid in Britain hen eggs. Cooked until the yolk is firm, a boiled or fried egg shows No known issues everywhere.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Soft-boiled or dippy eggs with a runny yolk

    CheckUnited StatesUnited KingdomAustraliaNew ZealandIrelandAvoidCanada

  • Fried with a runny yolk: over easy, sunny side up

    CheckUnited StatesUnited KingdomAustraliaNew ZealandIrelandAvoidCanada

  • Poached eggs, as in eggs benedict

    CheckUnited StatesUnited KingdomAustraliaNew ZealandIrelandAvoidCanada

  • Cooked until the yolk is firm: hard-boiled or fried hard

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

Runny egg while pregnant: what each country says.

Each country's own pregnancy guidance on runny egg, 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

    • Soft-boiled or dippy eggs with a runny yolkCheck
    • Fried with a runny yolk: over easy, sunny side upCheck
    • Poached eggs, as in eggs benedictCheck
    • Cooked until the yolk is firm: hard-boiled or fried hardNo 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

  • United Kingdom

    • Soft-boiled or dippy eggs with a runny yolkCheck
    • Fried with a runny yolk: over easy, sunny side upCheck
    • Poached eggs, as in eggs benedictCheck
    • Cooked until the yolk is firm: hard-boiled or fried hardNo 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

    • Soft-boiled or dippy eggs with a runny yolkAvoid
    • Fried with a runny yolk: over easy, sunny side upAvoid
    • Poached eggs, as in eggs benedictAvoid
    • Cooked until the yolk is firm: hard-boiled or fried hardNo 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

  • Australia

    • Soft-boiled or dippy eggs with a runny yolkCheck
    • Fried with a runny yolk: over easy, sunny side upCheck
    • Poached eggs, as in eggs benedictCheck
    • Cooked until the yolk is firm: hard-boiled or fried hardNo 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

  • New Zealand

    • Soft-boiled or dippy eggs with a runny yolkCheck
    • Fried with a runny yolk: over easy, sunny side upCheck
    • Poached eggs, as in eggs benedictCheck
    • Cooked until the yolk is firm: hard-boiled or fried hardNo 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
What to check

Before you eat runny egg.

  1. Cook until the yolk is firm

    The FDA asks for eggs to be cooked until yolk and white are firm, and suggests 2 to 3 minutes a side, or 4 minutes in a covered pan, for fried eggs. Australia's Pregnancy Birth and Baby asks for whites and yolks cooked until hard. FDA

  2. In the UK, look for the red lion stamp

    The NHS says hen eggs with the red British Lion stamp, or from the Laid in Britain scheme, can be eaten with a runny yolk, before the use-by date. Other hen eggs, and duck, goose or quail eggs, should be well cooked. NHS

  3. For a runny yolk in the US, use pasteurised eggs

    The FDA's advice is to use pasteurised eggs for recipes with raw or runny eggs. Pasteurised eggs say so on the carton. FDA

  4. Eating out, ask for the yolk cooked hard

    The FSA asks pregnant people eating out to make sure eggs are thoroughly cooked, as a cafe's eggs may not be British Lion or Laid in Britain. FSA

Questions

About runny egg
in pregnancy.

It depends on your country. The UK accepts runny British Lion or Laid in Britain hen eggs. The US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand ask for firm yolks, and Doola Scan shows Avoid for runny eggs in Canada and Check elsewhere.

The NHS says eggs that aren't British Lion are more likely to carry salmonella, and the FDA says raw eggs can carry salmonella. That's why most countries ask for the yolk cooked firm.

The NHS accepts it if it's a British Lion stamped or Laid in Britain hen egg eaten before the use-by date. Other hen eggs should be well cooked.

Over easy eggs have a runny yolk, so the same lines apply. Doola Scan shows Check for over easy eggs in all six countries; the over easy eggs page has the details.

A poached egg usually has a runny yolk. Doola Scan shows Avoid in Canada and Check in the other five; cook it until the yolk is firm, or use British Lion eggs in the UK.

The guidance is about how to cook eggs next time. If you feel unwell or are unsure, talk to your midwife or doctor.

The egg guidance is the same in every trimester. None of the six countries changes it from the first weeks to the last.

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

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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.