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Can I eat sardines while pregnant?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Sardines, canned, grilled or on toast, show Check in Doola Scan in all six countries: they count towards your weekly fish. The FDA lists sardines among its Best Choices, 2 to 3 servings a week, and the NHS counts them as oily fish, no more than 2 portions a week in pregnancy. Health NZ puts sardines among the fish with no limit, and Health Canada sets no weekly amount for low-mercury fish. Australia suggests most fish 2 to 3 times a week.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Canned sardines, in oil, water or tomato sauce, or on toast

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Fresh sardines, grilled or barbecued

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Sardines in a pasta or curry

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

Sardines while pregnant: what each country says.

Each country's own pregnancy guidance on sardines, 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
    • FDAEat 2 to 3 servings (4 oz each) a week from Best Choices (salmon, sardines, herring, Atlantic mackerel); king mackerel is avoid.Source
    Raw sardines (sashimi)
    • FDAPregnant people should avoid raw fish, partially cooked seafood and refrigerated smoked seafood.Source
    • FoodSafety.gov (HHS)Avoid raw sushi, sashimi and ceviche; cook seafood to 145°F.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
    • NHSOily fish can contain pollutants that build up in the body.Source
    Raw sardines (sashimi)
    • NHSRaw fish can carry listeria and parasites.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 CanadaLow-mercury oily fish (salmon, herring, mackerel, trout) encouraged; no weekly cap.Source
    Raw sardines (sashimi)
    • CPSAvoid raw fish in pregnancy.Source
    • Health CanadaAvoid raw seafood such as sushi; cook seafood to 74 °C (165 °F).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
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Fish not high in mercury no more than 2 to 3 times a week; no separate oily-fish limit.Source
    Raw sardines (sashimi)
    • Better Health Channel (Victoria)Avoid sashimi and sushi.Source
    • FSANZAvoid raw/chilled RTE seafood: oysters, sushi, sashimi, ceviche. PBB: safest sushi is homemade.Source
    • NSW Food AuthorityDo not eat store-bought sushi; home-made without raw fish is OK.Source
    • NSW HealthDo not eat raw seafood.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)No raw or ready-to-eat fish such as sashimi and sushi.Source

  • New Zealand

    Check
    • Health NZMost commonly eaten NZ fish can be eaten freely; low-mercury species need no restriction.Source
    • Health NZNo pollutant-based oily fish cap; farmed salmon and mackerel 3-4 servings a week, sardines and anchovy unrestricted.Source
    Raw sardines (sashimi)
    • Health NZUnsafe for pregnant people: raw oysters, sashimi, sushi and other chilled seafood.Source

  • Ireland

    Check
    Raw sardines (sashimi)
    • HSEAvoid raw or smoked fish, including sushi.Source
What to check

Before you eat sardines.

  1. Count sardines in your weekly fish

    The FDA asks pregnant women to eat 2 to 3 servings a week from its Best Choices list, and sardines are on it. A serving is 4 ounces, about the size of your palm. In Australia, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says most fish and seafood no more than 2 to 3 times a week. FDA

  2. In the UK, keep oily fish to 2 portions a week

    The NHS lists sardines with salmon, trout, mackerel and herring as oily fish, and asks pregnant women to have no more than 2 portions a week. It says oily fish can contain pollutants that can be harmful for your baby if you eat too much. NHS

  3. Cook it until it flakes

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

Questions

About sardines
in pregnancy.

Canned sardines show Check in Doola Scan in all six countries, the same as fresh, for the weekly fish amount. The NHS says canned sardines contain edible bones, which are a source of calcium and phosphorus.

The FDA puts sardines on its Best Choices list, its lowest-mercury group. Health NZ lists sardines among the fish with no limit in pregnancy, and health Canada limits only fresh or frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy and escolar.

The FDA says fish supply omega-3 fats, iron, iodine and choline, which support a baby's brain development, as well as protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D and selenium. The NHS says oily fish such as sardines are a good source of vitamin D.

In the US, 2 to 3 servings of 4 ounces a week from the FDA's Best Choices, sardines included. In the UK, no more than 2 portions of oily fish a week. Australia suggests most fish 2 to 3 times a week, and Health Canada and Health NZ set no weekly amount for sardines.

Sardine sashimi shows Avoid in Doola Scan in all six countries. The NHS lists raw fish as a food to avoid in pregnancy, because it could contain listeria.

Sardines (sardinas), canned or grilled, show Check in Doola Scan in all six countries, for the weekly fish amount. The FDA lists them among its Best Choices, 2 to 3 servings a week.

Sardines (السردين), canned or fresh, show Check in all six countries, for the weekly fish amount. The NHS counts them as oily fish, up to 2 portions a week in pregnancy.

Yes. Take a photo of the plate, the menu or the label, and Doola Scan checks every ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance. 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.