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Can I eat swordfish while pregnant?

Avoid Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Swordfish shows Avoid in Doola Scan in the US, UK and Ireland and Check in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, because of its high mercury. The FDA puts swordfish among its Choices to Avoid, and the NHS and Ireland's FSAI say not to eat it in pregnancy. Health Canada allows up to 150 g a month, combined with other high-mercury fish. FSANZ allows one 150 g portion a fortnight with no other fish that fortnight, and Health NZ one serving every 1 to 2 weeks.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Swordfish steaks, grilled or pan-fried

    AvoidUnited StatesUnited KingdomIrelandCheckCanadaAustraliaNew Zealand

  • Smoked swordfish

    AvoidUnited StatesUnited KingdomIrelandCheckCanadaAustraliaNew Zealand
Doola Scan checking a plate
What each country says

Swordfish while pregnant: what each country says.

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

  • United States

    Avoid
    • ACOGDo not eat shark, swordfish, marlin, bigeye tuna, king mackerel, orange roughy or tilefish.Source
    • FDAFDA/EPA: those who might become or are pregnant should not eat "Choices to Avoid" fish (shark, swordfish, marlin and others).Source
    • FDAHighest mercury levels; can affect a baby's developing brain.Source
    Raw swordfish (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

    Avoid
    • NHSThese fish can contain high mercury, which can affect a baby's nervous system.Source
    • NHSDo not eat shark, swordfish or marlin if pregnant or trying to get pregnant.Source
    Raw swordfish (sashimi)
    • NHSRaw fish can carry listeria and parasites.Source

  • Canada

    Check
    • CPSAvoid higher-mercury fish such as shark, swordfish and fresh or frozen tuna.Source
    • Health CanadaShark, swordfish, marlin allowed up to 150 g/month combined with other listed fish (UK: avoid).Source
    • Health CanadaPregnant, could become pregnant or breastfeeding: fresh/frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy, escolar max 150 g per month.Source
    Raw swordfish (sashimi)
    • CPSAvoid raw fish in pregnancy.Source
    • Health CanadaAvoid raw seafood such as sushi; cook seafood to 74 °C (165 °F).Source

  • Australia

    Check
    • Better Health Channel (Victoria)Limit fish with high mercury when pregnant or planning.Source
    • FSANZPregnant/planning: shark (flake), swordfish/broadbill, marlin ≤1 portion (150 g) per fortnight and no other fish that fortnight.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Shark (flake), swordfish/broadbill and marlin: no more than 150 g in 2 weeks, with no other fish then.Source
    • FSANZShark/billfish ≤150 g per fortnight (no other fish); orange roughy/catfish ≤150 g per week (no other fish).Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Shark, swordfish and marlin: no more than 150 g in 2 weeks; orange roughy and catfish no more than once a week.Source
    Raw swordfish (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
    • MPI (NZ Food Safety)Limit (not avoid): cardinalfish, dogfish (not rig), school shark, marlin, southern bluefin tuna, swordfish, geothermal lake trout.Source
    • Health NZSwordfish, marlin, school shark, southern bluefin tuna: one serving per 1-2 weeks; orange roughy no restriction.Source
    Raw swordfish (sashimi)
    • Health NZUnsafe for pregnant people: raw oysters, sashimi, sushi and other chilled seafood.Source

  • Ireland

    Avoid
    • FSAIPregnant women and women of childbearing age should not eat swordfish, marlin or shark.Source
    • HSEAvoid shark, swordfish and marlin.Source
    Raw swordfish (sashimi)
    • HSEAvoid raw or smoked fish, including sushi.Source
What to check

Before you eat swordfish.

  1. In the US, UK and Ireland, choose another fish

    The FDA lists swordfish among its Choices to Avoid, the fish with the highest mercury levels. The NHS says not to eat swordfish or marlin if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, and Ireland's FSAI says pregnant women should not eat swordfish, marlin or shark. FDA

  2. In Canada, keep it to 150 g a month

    Health Canada advises pregnant women to eat no more than 150 g a month of fresh or frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy and escolar, all combined. Health Canada

  3. In Australia and New Zealand, one portion a fortnight

    FSANZ says one 150 g portion of swordfish, also sold as broadbill, a fortnight, with no other fish that fortnight. Health NZ says one serving every 1 to 2 weeks of swordfish, marlin, school shark or southern bluefin tuna. FSANZ

Questions

About swordfish
in pregnancy.

Because of mercury. The NHS says swordfish can contain high mercury, which can affect a baby's nervous system, and the FDA puts it among the fish with the highest mercury levels.

The guidance is about what you eat from now on: leave swordfish out in the US, UK and Ireland, and stay within the limit in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. If you're worried, talk to your midwife or doctor.

It depends on your country. The US, UK and Ireland say not to eat it, and Doola Scan shows Avoid there. Canada allows up to 150 g a month with other high-mercury fish, Australia 150 g a fortnight with no other fish, and New Zealand one serving every 1 to 2 weeks.

The FDA lists swordfish among its Choices to Avoid. It suggests 2 to 3 servings a week from its Best Choices list, which includes salmon, shrimp and cod.

Marlin shows the same as swordfish: Avoid in the US, UK and Ireland and Check in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The NHS names swordfish and marlin together as fish not to eat in pregnancy.

The guidance is the same in every trimester, and the NHS applies it to women trying to get pregnant too. Swordfish shows the same verdict from the first weeks to the last.

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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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.