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Can I eat strawberries while pregnant?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Fresh strawberries aren't on the pregnancy food lists of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland, so Doola Scan shows No known issues for them; frozen strawberries eaten uncooked get a Check in all six. Health NZ asks for frozen berries to be cooked before eating, Ireland's FSAI says to boil imported frozen berries for one minute, and FSANZ lists frozen fruit as higher risk unless it's thoroughly cooked. Strawberries are eaten skin and all, so rinse fresh ones first: Health NZ asks you to wash and dry fresh fruit just before eating.

Check any food in Doola Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Fresh strawberries, eaten whole or sliced

    No known issuesIn all six countries

  • Frozen strawberries, in smoothies or straight from the bag

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Strawberry jam

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

Can you eat strawberries while pregnant? What each country says.

Each country's own pregnancy guidance on strawberries, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.

  • Doola has no source from the United States on this yet; its answer comes from the other countries' guidance.

  • United States

    • Fresh strawberries, eaten whole or slicedNo known issues
    • Frozen strawberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Strawberry jamNo known issues
    Washing fruit before eating
    • FDAAvoid unwashed fresh vegetables, including lettuce and salads.Source

  • United Kingdom

    • Fresh strawberries, eaten whole or slicedNo known issues
    • Frozen strawberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Strawberry jamNo known issues
    • FSAFrozen vegetables must be thoroughly cooked before eating, including in cold salads or smoothies unless the pack says otherwise.Source
    • NHSCook frozen vegetables until steaming hot.Source
    • NHSCook or reheat food, including frozen vegetables, until steaming hot right through.Source
    Washing fruit before eating
    • NHSSoil on produce can carry bacteria and toxoplasma.Source

  • Canada

    • Fresh strawberries, eaten whole or slicedNo known issues
    • Frozen strawberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Strawberry jamNo known issues
    • Health CanadaCook frozen vegetables before eating unless the maker says otherwise.Source
    • Health CanadaCook frozen vegetables per package directions before eating.Source
    Washing fruit before eating
    • Health CanadaRinse delicate produce under cool running water; scrub firm produce.Source

  • Australia

    • Fresh strawberries, eaten whole or slicedNo known issues
    • Frozen strawberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Strawberry jamNo known issues
    • FSANZFrozen produce eaten uncooked is higher risk for listeria and other foodborne illness.Source
    • NSW HealthFrozen vegetables only if cooked.Source
    • FSANZFrozen fruit and vegetables are higher risk; eat thoroughly cooked frozen product.Source
    Washing fruit before eating
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Wash fruit, vegetables and herbs to remove soil (toxoplasma).Source

  • New Zealand

    • Fresh strawberries, eaten whole or slicedNo known issues
    • Frozen strawberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Strawberry jamNo known issues
    • Health NZFrozen vegetables: cook; frozen berries cooked before eating.Source
    • Health NZFrozen vegetables: cook, don't eat uncooked; frozen berries cooked before eating.Source
    Washing fruit before eating
    • Health NZWash and dry all fresh fruit and vegetables well just before eating.Source

  • Ireland

    • Fresh strawberries, eaten whole or slicedNo known issues
    • Frozen strawberries, in smoothies or straight from the bagCheck
    • Strawberry jamNo known issues
    • FSAIBoil imported frozen berries for one minute before eating.Source
    • HSECook frozen vegetables until steaming hot.Source
    Washing fruit before eating
    • HSEWash all fruit, vegetables and pre-packed salads before eating.Source
What to check

Before you eat strawberries.

  1. Rinse fresh strawberries just before eating

    Rinse them in a colander under running water, without soap or detergent. Health NZ asks you to wash and dry fresh fruit well just before eating, and the FDA says not to use soap or produce wash. FDA

  2. Cook or boil frozen strawberries

    Health NZ asks for frozen berries to be cooked before eating. Ireland's FSAI says to boil imported frozen berries for one minute, after norovirus and hepatitis A outbreaks linked to imported frozen berries in Europe. FSAI

  3. Treat frozen strawberries in smoothies the same way

    FSANZ lists frozen fruit as higher risk in pregnancy, with freshly prepared fruit or thoroughly cooked frozen fruit as the alternatives. Frozen strawberries blended straight from the bag aren't cooked, so fresh strawberries are the option that fits this advice. FSANZ

Questions

About strawberries
in pregnancy.

The guidance is the same in every trimester. Fresh strawberries aren't named at any stage, and the frozen-berry advice applies from the first weeks of pregnancy to the last.

Rinse fresh strawberries under running water just before you eat them. If they're frozen, cook them first, as Health NZ asks, or boil imported frozen berries for one minute, as Ireland's FSAI asks.

Doola Scan shows Check for frozen strawberries in all six countries. Health NZ asks for frozen berries to be cooked, the FSAI says to boil imported frozen berries for one minute, and FSANZ lists uncooked frozen fruit as higher risk.

Fresh strawberries (fresas, frutillas) aren't on the pregnancy food lists of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland. Rinse them before eating; frozen ones should be cooked first in New Zealand, and imported frozen berries boiled in Ireland.

Fresh strawberries aren't named in these six countries' pregnancy guidance, so Doola Scan shows No known issues. Wash them well first, and cook frozen strawberries before eating.

The NHS asks for at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day in pregnancy, and says they provide vitamins, minerals and fibre. Strawberries count towards them.

Doola Scan shows No known issues for strawberry jam. The NHS asks you to have foods high in sugar less often and in small amounts.

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