Can I eat watermelon while pregnant?
Doola Scan's answer in the United StatesWhole watermelon you cut yourself isn't on the pregnancy food lists of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland, so Doola Scan shows No known issues for it; pre-cut watermelon is where they differ. Doola Scan shows Avoid for pre-cut fruit in Australia and New Zealand, where FSANZ and Health NZ advise against pre-prepared fruit salads, and Check in the US, UK, Canada and Ireland. The CDC says to choose melon that has just been cut, and the NHS says to keep pre-cut fruit chilled and eat it before the use-by date.
Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · UpdatedWhole watermelon you cut at home
Check
Avoid
Pre-cut watermelon, wedges and fruit cups from the store
CheckAvoid
Watermelon while pregnant: what each country says.
Each country's own pregnancy guidance on watermelon, 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- CDCFreshly cut melon is the safer choice; avoid cut melon left out over 2 hours or refrigerated over a week.Source
- FDARinse melons thoroughly before cutting.Source
- CDCChoose freshly cut melon; avoid cut melon left out over 2 hours or kept refrigerated over a week.Source
- FDAKeep the fridge at 40 F or below and use ready-to-eat perishable produce as soon as possible; check use-by dates.Source
Washing fruit before eating- FDAAvoid unwashed fresh vegetables, including lettuce and salads.Source
United Kingdom
Check- NHSWhole melon fine; pre-packaged and pre-cut melon: keep chilled and eat before use-by.Source
- NHSReady-to-eat cut fruit may carry listeria.Source
Washing fruit before eating- NHSSoil on produce can carry bacteria and toxoplasma.Source
Canada
Check- Health CanadaChoose pre-cut fruit from a refrigerated display; avoid pre-cut produce sitting on ice.Source
Washing fruit before eating- Health CanadaRinse delicate produce under cool running water; scrub firm produce.Source
Australia
- Whole watermelon you cut at homeCheck
- Pre-cut watermelon, wedges and fruit cups from the storeAvoid
- FSANZAvoid pre-prepared or pre-packaged fruit salads.Source
- NSW Food AuthorityDo not eat pre-prepared or pre-packaged salads, including fruit salad.Source
- NSW HealthDo not eat pre-cut or pre-prepared fruit, including fruit salad.Source
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Avoid pre-prepared or pre-packaged fruit salads, including from buffets and salad bars.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
Avoid- Health NZHealth NZ lists melons as a higher-risk listeria food for pregnant women.Source
- Health NZPre-packaged and ready-made fruit salads: don't eat.Source
Washing fruit before eating- Health NZWash and dry all fresh fruit and vegetables well just before eating.Source
Ireland
CheckWashing fruit before eating- HSEWash all fruit, vegetables and pre-packed salads before eating.Source
Before you eat watermelon.
Wash the rind before you cut it
Health NZ asks for whole melons to be thoroughly washed and dried before cutting. Health Canada says to scrub firm produce with a clean vegetable brush under cool running water. Health NZ
Eat it freshly cut
The CDC says freshly cut melon is the better choice. It says to avoid cut melon left out for more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), or kept in the fridge for more than a week. CDC
Keep pre-cut watermelon chilled
The NHS says to keep pre-cut fruit chilled and eat it before the use-by date. Health Canada asks you to choose pre-cut fruit from a refrigerated display, not from on top of ice. NHS
In Australia or New Zealand, cut your own
FSANZ says to avoid pre-prepared or pre-packaged fruit salads, NSW Health says not to eat pre-cut or pre-prepared fruit, and Health NZ says not to eat ready-made fruit salads. Doola Scan shows No known issues for whole watermelon you wash and cut at home. FSANZ
About watermelon
in pregnancy.
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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.
Download app nowDoola 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.