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Can I eat scampi while pregnant?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Breaded scampi, the langoustine tails served with chips in the UK, shows No known issues in Doola Scan in all six countries: none of these countries' pregnancy food lists names scampi or langoustine. Shrimp scampi, shrimp or prawns in garlic butter, shows Check, because shrimp counts towards the weekly fish amount: the FDA lists shrimp among its Best Choices, 2 to 3 servings a week. When the sauce is made with white wine, Doola Scan shows Check for that too, as every country advises no alcohol in pregnancy.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Breaded scampi (langoustine), baked or fried

    No known issuesIn all six countries

  • Shrimp scampi or prawn scampi in garlic butter

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

Scampi while pregnant: what each country says.

Each country's own pregnancy guidance on scampi, 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

    • Breaded scampi (langoustine), baked or friedNo known issues
    • Shrimp scampi or prawn scampi in garlic butterCheck
    • FDAFish is recommended but amounts limit mercury exposure.Source
    Scampi in a white wine sauce
    • CDCNo known safe amount of alcohol in pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant; all types harmful.Source
    • Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA/HHS)Pregnant women should completely avoid alcohol.Source
    • MyHealthfinder (HHS)Don't drink alcohol; no amount is safe in pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant.Source
    • ACOGAny amount of alcohol is at-risk drinking in pregnancy.Source
    • CDCNo known safe amount of alcohol in pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant.Source

  • United Kingdom

    • Breaded scampi (langoustine), baked or friedNo known issues
    • Shrimp scampi or prawn scampi in garlic butterCheck
    • NHSTrying for a baby or pregnant: max 2 oily fish portions (140g) a week; tuna max 4 cans or 2 steaks a week.Source
    Scampi in a white wine sauce
    • NHSAlcohol passes to the baby and can cause lifelong harm (FASD).Source
    • NICEExplain there is no known safe level; the safest approach is to avoid alcohol altogether.Source
    • RCOGSafest not to drink at all when pregnant or possibly pregnant.Source
    • NHSDo not drink alcohol if pregnant or planning to become pregnant.Source

  • Canada

    • Breaded scampi (langoustine), baked or friedNo known issues
    • Shrimp scampi or prawn scampi in garlic butterCheck
    • Health CanadaLow-mercury fish encouraged with no weekly amount; limit only fresh/frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy, escolar.Source
    Scampi in a white wine sauce
    • CPSNo amount of alcohol is considered safe in pregnancy.Source
    • Health CanadaSafest choice is no alcohol when pregnant or planning a pregnancy.Source
    • SOGCNo known safe amount: safest not to drink when pregnant or if you might become pregnant.Source
    • Health CanadaNo amount or type of alcohol in pregnancy is considered safe.Source

  • Australia

    • Breaded scampi (langoustine), baked or friedNo known issues
    • Shrimp scampi or prawn scampi in garlic butterCheck
    • 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
    Scampi in a white wine sauce
    • Australian Government Department of HealthDo not drink alcohol when pregnant or planning a pregnancy.Source
    • Better Health Channel (Victoria)Safest not to drink alcohol at all when pregnant.Source
    • FSANZWomen who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not drink alcohol.Source
    • NHMRCWomen who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not drink alcohol.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Safest not to drink alcohol when planning, pregnant or breastfeeding.Source

  • New Zealand

    • Breaded scampi (langoustine), baked or friedNo known issues
    • Shrimp scampi or prawn scampi in garlic butterCheck
    • Health NZMost commonly eaten NZ fish can be eaten freely; low-mercury species need no restriction.Source
    Scampi in a white wine sauce
    • Health NZStop drinking if you could be pregnant, are pregnant or trying; no known safe level.Source
    • Health NZStop drinking alcohol if you could be pregnant, are pregnant or trying to get pregnant; no known safe level.Source

  • Ireland

    • Breaded scampi (langoustine), baked or friedNo known issues
    • Shrimp scampi or prawn scampi in garlic butterCheck
    Scampi in a white wine sauce
    • HSENo amount of alcohol at any stage of pregnancy is safe; do not drink when trying to conceive.Source
What to check

Before you eat scampi.

  1. Cook scampi until hot all the way through

    The FDA says most seafood should reach 145°F inside, and that shrimp and lobster are done when the flesh is firm, pearly and opaque. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby asks for seafood cooked to at least 63°C and eaten straight away. FDA

  2. Count shrimp scampi in your weekly fish

    The FDA asks pregnant women to eat 2 to 3 servings a week from its Best Choices, which include shrimp. A serving is 4 ounces, about the size of your palm. FDA

  3. Ask whether the sauce has wine

    Some shrimp scampi recipes add white wine. The CDC advises no alcohol in pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant, and the NHS advises not drinking alcohol at all. You can ask for the sauce without wine. CDC

Questions

About scampi
in pregnancy.

Breaded scampi shows No known issues in Doola Scan in all six countries, baked or fried. None of these countries' pregnancy food lists names scampi or langoustine. Cook it until it's hot all the way through and eat it straight away.

Shrimp scampi shows Check in all six countries. The shrimp is cooked in the pan, so the check is the weekly amount of fish and seafood, and whether the sauce has wine in it.

Doola Scan shows Check for a cooked white wine sauce, not Avoid. Every country's alcohol advice is not to drink alcohol in pregnancy: Ireland's HSE advises no alcohol at any stage of pregnancy. If you'd rather leave it out, ask for the sauce made without wine.

The FDA puts shrimp on its Best Choices list, its lower-mercury group. Its chart doesn't list langoustine. Health Canada limits only fresh or frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy and escolar.

The guidance is the same in every trimester. Breaded scampi shows No known issues and shrimp scampi shows Check from the first weeks to the third trimester.

Cooked scampi shows No known issues in Doola Scan in all six countries, and shrimp scampi Check, for the weekly fish amount. Raw shellfish is on every country's list of foods to avoid.

Yes. Take a photo of the menu or the box, and Doola Scan checks each ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance, including any wine in the sauce. 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.