Can I Eat Tuna Tartare During Pregnancy?
At a Glance:
⚠️ Concern: Tuna tartare is raw fish, which may carry Listeria, Salmonella, or parasites, and may be high in mercury.
🔥 Risk Level: High — Raw tuna is not recommended during pregnancy due to foodborne illness and mercury exposure risks.
✅ Safe Practices: Choose fully cooked tuna dishes instead, and limit intake of high-mercury fish including certain tuna varieties.
Tuna tartare is known for its delicate texture and bold flavor, often served as a fine-dining appetizer. But if you're pregnant, indulging in raw tuna may not be worth the risk. While seafood can be part of a healthy pregnancy diet, raw preparations like tartare come with serious safety concerns.
Here’s what to know before ordering or making tuna tartare while expecting.
Why Tuna Tartare Is Risky During Pregnancy
Tuna tartare is made with raw tuna, usually finely chopped and mixed with ingredients like soy sauce, citrus, and sesame oil. Despite its gourmet appeal, raw fish during pregnancy poses two main risks:
1. Foodborne Illness
Raw tuna may contain:
Listeria monocytogenes
Salmonella
Anisakis and other parasites
Pregnant women are about 10 times more likely to get listeriosis than other healthy adults. Because immune systems are altered during pregnancy, it is harder for pregnant women to fight off infections.
FDA – Listeria & Pregnancy
These bacteria and parasites can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm labor, and severe illness in newborns.
2. Mercury Exposure
Some tuna varieties—especially bigeye and bluefin—are high in mercury, which can impair fetal brain and nervous system development.
Can I Have Cooked Tuna Instead?
Yes! Cooked tuna can be a safe and nutritious option during pregnancy—if you follow guidelines on mercury content and portion size.
✅ Safer cooked tuna choices:
Skipjack (used in light canned tuna)
Albacore/white tuna (in moderation)
Grilled or seared tuna (fully cooked only)
The FDA recommends up to 12 ounces (about 2–3 servings) per week of low-mercury fish during pregnancy.
What to Avoid with Tuna Tartare
During pregnancy, avoid any tuna that is:
Served raw (tartare, sashimi, carpaccio)
Lightly seared or undercooked
From high-mercury species like bigeye, ahi, or bluefin
Prepared at places with questionable hygiene
Safer Alternatives to Tuna Tartare
If you’re craving the flavor of tuna tartare, try these pregnancy-friendly ideas:
Canned light tuna salad on cucumber slices
Cooked ahi tuna diced and chilled with sesame oil and avocado
Smashed chickpea or tofu “tuna-style” tartare with citrus and herbs
Salmon tartare made with cooked salmon
These swaps let you enjoy the textures and flavors of tartare with far less risk.
Conclusion: Skip Tuna Tartare While Pregnant
As tempting as it may be, tuna tartare is not considered safe during pregnancy due to the risks of foodborne illness and mercury exposure. Play it safe by choosing fully cooked tuna and low-mercury seafood instead.
Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions regarding your health, pregnancy, or medical conditions.
Reference. https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/causes/meat-fish.html
