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Can I eat tomatoes while pregnant?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Tomatoes aren't on any of six countries' lists of foods to avoid in pregnancy, raw or cooked, so the one thing Doola Scan asks you to check is washing them. The US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland all ask you to wash fruit and vegetables before eating, because soil can carry bacteria and toxoplasma. The NHS names tomatoes in its advice to wash salad vegetables thoroughly. Doola Scan shows Check for every form in all six countries, cooked ones included, because the check starts with the fresh tomato.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Raw tomatoes, in salads, salsa or kachumber

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Cherry tomatoes

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Cooked tomatoes, in curries, sauces and soups

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Tomato chutney (tamatar ki chatni)

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Canned tomatoes

    No known issuesIn all six countries

  • Sun-dried tomatoes

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

Tomatoes while pregnant: what each country says.

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

  • United States

    • Raw tomatoes, in salads, salsa or kachumberCheck
    • Cherry tomatoesCheck
    • Cooked tomatoes, in curries, sauces and soupsCheck
    • Tomato chutney (tamatar ki chatni)Check
    • Canned tomatoesNo known issues
    • Sun-dried tomatoesNo known issues
    • FDAAvoid unwashed fresh vegetables, including lettuce and salads.Source

  • United Kingdom

    • Raw tomatoes, in salads, salsa or kachumberCheck
    • Cherry tomatoesCheck
    • Cooked tomatoes, in curries, sauces and soupsCheck
    • Tomato chutney (tamatar ki chatni)Check
    • Canned tomatoesNo known issues
    • Sun-dried tomatoesNo known issues
    • NHSSoil on produce can carry bacteria and toxoplasma.Source

  • Canada

    • Raw tomatoes, in salads, salsa or kachumberCheck
    • Cherry tomatoesCheck
    • Cooked tomatoes, in curries, sauces and soupsCheck
    • Tomato chutney (tamatar ki chatni)Check
    • Canned tomatoesNo known issues
    • Sun-dried tomatoesNo known issues
    • Health CanadaRinse delicate produce under cool running water; scrub firm produce.Source

  • Australia

    • Raw tomatoes, in salads, salsa or kachumberCheck
    • Cherry tomatoesCheck
    • Cooked tomatoes, in curries, sauces and soupsCheck
    • Tomato chutney (tamatar ki chatni)Check
    • Canned tomatoesNo known issues
    • Sun-dried tomatoesNo known issues
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Wash fruit, vegetables and herbs to remove soil (toxoplasma).Source

  • New Zealand

    • Raw tomatoes, in salads, salsa or kachumberCheck
    • Cherry tomatoesCheck
    • Cooked tomatoes, in curries, sauces and soupsCheck
    • Tomato chutney (tamatar ki chatni)Check
    • Canned tomatoesNo known issues
    • Sun-dried tomatoesNo known issues
    • Health NZWash and dry all fresh fruit and vegetables well just before eating.Source

  • Ireland

    • Raw tomatoes, in salads, salsa or kachumberCheck
    • Cherry tomatoesCheck
    • Cooked tomatoes, in curries, sauces and soupsCheck
    • Tomato chutney (tamatar ki chatni)Check
    • Canned tomatoesNo known issues
    • Sun-dried tomatoesNo known issues
    • HSEWash all fruit, vegetables and pre-packed salads before eating.Source
What to check

Before you eat tomatoes.

  1. Rinse tomatoes under running water

    Rinse each tomato under running water before you slice it, eat it raw or cook it. Don't use soap, detergent or bleach. The FDA asks pregnant women to rinse raw fruit and vegetables thoroughly before eating or preparing them. FDA

  2. Wash salad tomatoes with the rest of the salad

    The NHS asks you to wash salad vegetables, like lettuce and tomatoes, thoroughly before eating, because soil can carry bacteria and toxoplasma. Cherry tomatoes count too: rinse them in a colander rather than eating them from the pack. NHS

  3. Cut away bruised or split parts

    The FDA says bacteria can thrive in damaged or bruised areas, so cut those away before eating. A small vegetable brush helps lift dirt from the skin. FDA

Questions

About tomatoes
in pregnancy.

Tomato (tamatar) isn't on the pregnancy lists of foods to avoid in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland. Raw (kacha) or cooked, in sabzi or chutney, wash it well first, because soil can carry bacteria and toxoplasma.

Raw tomatoes aren't on any of the six countries' lists of foods to avoid. Doola Scan shows Check because they need washing first: the NHS names tomatoes in its advice to wash salad vegetables thoroughly before eating.

The guidance doesn't change by trimester. No country lists tomatoes, and washing fresh produce applies from the first weeks through the second and third trimesters.

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, which helps digestion. Tomatoes count towards them, and so do canned ones.

Kamatis (tomato) isn't on any of these six countries' lists of foods to avoid, and Doola Scan shows No known issues for soy sauce (toyo). The tomatoes are eaten raw in this dish, so wash them well before slicing.

None of the six countries' pregnancy guidance names a harm from tomatoes. The NHS counts them towards the 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day it asks for, and asks you to wash them first.

The NHS doesn't name tomatoes in its heartburn advice for pregnancy. It suggests small meals more often, not eating within three hours of bedtime, and cutting down on rich, spicy or fatty foods. See your midwife or GP if changes to your diet don't help.

Tomato sauce and tomato chutney get the same Check as fresh tomatoes in Doola Scan: wash the tomatoes you cook with. Doola Scan shows No known issues for ketchup.

Neither is on any of the six countries' lists of foods to avoid. Doola Scan shows Check for both, the same washing check as fresh tomatoes, so rinse cherry tomatoes before eating.

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.