New starting September 2022: UK Food Standards Agency has updated its advice. Cold-smoked salmon that has not been cooked is now regarded as a greater listeria risk by the UK, just like it is in other countries. Continue reading for the most recent information.
It is difficult to determine the safety of smoked salmon during pregnancy. There are many conflicting reports on the web and advice varied widely from one country to another until recently.
I decided to create a guide that explains whether or not pregnant women can eat smoked fish, and if so, in what form.
Smoked salmon is safe for pregnant women to eat, as it has been cooked through the process of smoking. Cold-smoked salmon can be consumed during pregnancy if the fish is shelf-stable or fully cooked. Cold smoked salmon that is “ready to eat” should be avoided. Salmon should always be prepared according to the recommended quantities.
It’s important to know what type of smoked salmon is being consumed if you are pregnant.
Here I will explore the different types and give examples of how you can find and eat them.
This article only covers smoked Salmon. You might find this article on salmon interesting if you are interested in regular salmon that is not smoked.
Is hot smoked salmon safe for pregnant women?
It is safe to consume hot smoked salmon for pregnant women, whether it’s fresh, frozen, or canned.
The salmon is smoked to a temperature that allows the fish to be cooked thoroughly. (Source: USDA).
The label should read “Hot-smoked”. Smoking temperatures should be above 160F/71C during the home-smoking process.
Can I eat canned smoked salmon while pregnant?
Cans of smoked salmon are safe to consume during pregnancy. The canning process involves pasteurization or heat treatment to kill bacteria. (Source: Science Direct).
Only if it’s refrigerated (like fresh crabmeat), would this mean that the product isn’t pasteurized.
Cold Smoked salmon safety during pregnancy
There are two types of cold-smoked Salmon. There are two types of cold-smoked salmon: shelf-stable and “ready to eat”. The latter is far more common.
Cold Smoked Salmon that is Shelf Stable in Pregnancy
Pregnant women can usually eat shelf-stable smoked Salmon.
The term “Shelf Stable” is used in food storage to describe goods that are ‘ambient,’ i.e. Those displayed on the shelf at room/shop temperatures. This type of salmon comes vacuum-sealed in a box, and it is not refrigerated at the store or shop.
Salmon that is kept in the fridge and sold at the same time does not qualify as “shelf-stable”. Shelf-stable products usually require refrigeration only once the product has been opened.
Do not eat any smoked fish that has been improperly preserved.
Smoked salmon that is “ready to eat” and can be refrigerated during pregnancy
Let’s now talk about the most common type of smoked salmon – the refrigerated, ready-to-eat smoked salmon. It can be sliced or whole and is used in many places, including salads, sandwiches and bagels. The image below shows what it looks like.
In the USA the Food and Drug Administration warns expecting women to avoid cold-smoked salmon (source: FDA). In the UK, this used to be a different opinion. However, in September 2022 after an ongoing listeria outbreak, the British Food Standards Agency changed its advice. You can find out more about the decision made by their agency here.
The smoked salmon that is found in supermarkets and delicatessens, whether it’s packaged or not.
Cold-smoked salmon is not suitable for pregnant women unless it has been cooked. The reason for this is that the fish has not been frozen before and may contain parasitic worms. It may also be contaminated by cross-contamination or bad storage, which can cause listeria.
Cold-smoked Salmon that has the same risk can also be labelled:
- Lox
- Gravadlax
- Smoked salmon candy
- Smoked salmon jerky
- Kippered salmon
- Nova lox
- Nova Style
These salmons are not suitable for pregnant women because they are often cured but not cooked.
You may also find that other common dishes you encounter often contain cold smoked (and potentially dangerous) smoked Salmon including:
– Cream cheese on a bagel
– in an ‘eggs benedict royale’ (which can also be unsafe because of the egg yolk in Hollandaise)
On blinis and toasts for canapes, nibbles or snacks
-in salads sandwiches and wraps.
On some pizzas, it’s added at the end of cooking.
As sashimi or on top of sushi
However, if the cold-smoked product is cooked, for example in a stew, casserole or soup, it can be eaten.
Smoked Salmon Pate While Pregnant
Smoked salmon Pate neither hot nor cold smoked is safe for pregnant women. All pates carry a listeria risk (source: Journal of Food Protection).
You should also be cautious when using smoked-salmon spreads, dips, or creamed cheese flavours, as these may contain unpasteurized products and/or cold smoked salmon pieces.
Smoked Salmon Sushi During Pregnancy
Sushi that contains smoked salmon should be treated the same as any other piece of smoked fish – if it’s cold-smoked, and not cooked it is best avoided.
A roll that contains hot smoked Salmon, which has been thoroughly cooked, would be safe to eat during pregnancy, as long as it wasn’t mixed with ingredients like Mayonnaise.
How much-smoked salmon can I eat while pregnant?
Pregnant women should limit their intake of oily fish to two or three times per week. This includes smoked salmon.
This is both due to a risk of mercury build-up and the potential for ingesting dioxins or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which have been found in farmed fish (source: NHS).
Smoked salmon is often made from the fattier parts of the fish.
Smoked Salmon is rich in protein and also contains vitamin D as well as a variety of B vitamins (source: USDA).
The smoking process makes it rich in sodium and salt, so you should eat it in moderation. A portion of smoked fish is approximately 40g or 2oz.
Oily fish are a good source of Omega 3, which is important for pregnant women. However, there are healthier alternatives to oily fish, such as mackerel or herring.
It is better to choose another oily fish as your weekly alternative.
I accidentally ate smoked salmon while pregnant. What should I do?
The risk of a parasitic or listeria infection from smoked salmon is very low. So don’t panic.
The symptoms of foodborne illness usually appear one to three days after the contaminated foodstuff was consumed (source: FDA).
If you’ve been feeling fine for a longer period, likely, the salmon has not been contaminated.
You may fall ill within a half-hour, but it could take six weeks to get sick.
It is easy to confuse food poisoning with other problems that are similar (such as morning sickness). However, if you:
- nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- diarrhoea
- Flu-like symptoms
- headaches or unusual headache
Consult your doctor immediately after eating smoked Salmon. Tell them what and when you ate. Always be safe.