Can You Eat Calamari During Pregnancy? - Healthline

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

Parenthood

Can You Eat Calamari During Pregnancy?

Medically reviewed by Jillian Kubala, MS, RD, Nutrition — Written by Valencia Higuera on June 18, 2020

Mercury
Safety
Preparation
Benefits
Other options
Takeaway

Pregnancy takes your body through a lot of changes, both physically and hormonally.

And hormonal changes don’t only affect mood — they can also affect what you like to eat. Some pregnant people have food aversions, where even the thought of eating certain foods makes them sick. Others, though, experience strong cravings for certain foods.

And what if you’re suddenly craving a plate of fried calamari (squid) with marinara sauce and a squeeze of lemon? Is that OK?

You’ve heard some seafood is good for pregnant people — omega-3s and all that. But is calamari safe to eat during pregnancy? The short answer is yes — let’s take a look.

What’s the deal with mercury?

Calamari and other seafood are excellent sources of nutrients, and part of a healthy diet while pregnant.

But especially when it comes to pregnancy, many people wonder about the mercury content in seafood. Fears about mercury can even prevent pregnant people from getting the great benefits of fish.

Mercury is a naturally occurring compound found in the environment. It’s in the air, water, and soil. As a heavy metal, though, high exposure can be toxic to humans. This can lead to mercury poisoning, which affects brain, kidney, lung, and heart function.

Some seafood is higher in mercury. Exposure to high levels of mercury during pregnancy — such as consuming polluted shellfish or grains contaminated with mercury — can have harmful effects on fetal development and lead to cognitive impairment and increase the risk of cerebral palsy.

But it’s important to note that recent research has found that there’s not a lot of solid evidence connecting moderate levels of mercury from seafood consumption in pregnant women with impaired fetal development.

And actually, fish consumption is known to benefit fetal development and helps promote maternal health as well, as illustrated in this 2018 study.

While it’s essential that you avoid seafood that’s known to be very high in mercury — including king mackerel, shark, tilefish, swordfish, bigeye tuna, and marlin — it’s unnecessary to avoid other seafood due to concerns over mercury exposure.

In fact, the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that pregnant women consume between 8 and 12 ounces of seafood every week.

Is calamari safe to eat during pregnancy despite its mercury content?

Again, mercury levels vary depending on the type of seafood, with some species containing more mercury than others. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pregnant women should avoid seafood containing the highest mercury levels.

The good news for calamari lovers is that this particular seafood doesn’t have a high mercury level, making it a safe choice during pregnancy — in moderation.

Calamari is actually included among one of the best seafood choices for women who are pregnant or who might become pregnant, also according to the FDA. Calamari contains 0.024 parts per million (PPM) of mercury, which is significantly less than the amount in shark, swordfish, tuna, and marlin.

Because of calamari’s low amount of mercury, you can safely consume two to three servings per week. A serving is the equivalent of 4 ounces.

How should you cook calamari?

Although squid is safe to eat during pregnancy, it’s only safe when cooked properly. Different ways to prepare this seafood include frying, sautéing, baking, and grilling.

Avoiding raw seafood
Squid is also eaten raw, and sometimes included as an ingredient in uncooked sushi. But if you’re pregnant, it’s best to avoid raw or uncooked seafood in preparations like sushi. Raw seafood can contain bacteria that’s harmful to you and your baby.

You can also sear squid, but avoid eating it this way while pregnant. While the outside might cook, the inside might remain raw, putting you and your baby at risk of illness.

Seafood needs to cook thoroughly to an internal temperature of 145°F (62.8°C). After cooking, it’s important to put any leftovers in the refrigerator soon thereafter. When left at room temperature, it only takes 1 to 2 hours for harmful bacteria to grow.

What health benefits does calamari have for pregnant people?

Calamari isn’t only tasty — it also contains nutrients that are beneficial during pregnancy. For example, calamari is a good source of omega-3.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential during pregnancy as they promote fetal brain development. Additionally, calamari is an excellent source of protein, vitamin E, copper, B12, zinc, selenium, and iron, all of which are important nutrients during pregnancy.

Is other seafood safe during pregnancy?

Calamari isn’t the only seafood that’s safe to eat during pregnancy. You can also safely consume other low mercury seafood, including other mollusks like scallops, oysters, shrimp, and clams.

Other low mercury fish include:

catfish
cod
crawfish
white fish
salmon
sardine
flounder
whiting
lobster
herring

You can eat two to three servings of low mercury fish a week.

Other good choices include grouper, mahi-mahi, snapper, white croaker, and bluefish. You can eat one serving of fish in this group per week.

The takeaway

When a craving for calamari hits during pregnancy, you can and should enjoy a plate of this nutritious seafood.

It’s one of the better types of seafood to choose while pregnant due to it being low in mercury and high in nutrients that are important for both your health and the health of your growing baby — bon appétit!

Parenthood
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Health

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Advice about eating fish. (2019).https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/advice-about-eating-fish
Amezcua-Prieto C, et al. (2018). Maternal seafood intake and the risk of small for gestational age newborns: A case–control study in Spanish women. DOI:https://dx.doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmjopen-2017-020424
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020. Eighth edition. (2015). Chapter 1: A closer look inside healthy eating patterns. About seafood.https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrition/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines/guidelines/chapter-1/a-closer-look-inside-healthy-eating-patterns/#callout-seafood
Hibbeln J, et al. (2018). Total mercury exposure in early pregnancy has no adverse association with scholastic ability of the offspring particularly if the mother eats fish. DOI:https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.envint.2018.03.024
Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Pregnancy week by week.https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-and-fish/art-20044185?p=1
Mercury levels in commercial fish and shellfish. (2017).https://www.fda.gov/food/metals-and-your-food/mercury-levels-commercial-fish-and-shellfish-1990-2012
Selecting and serving fresh and frozen seafood safely. (2019).https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-fresh-and-frozen-seafood-safely
Squid. (n.d.).http://www.shellfish.org.uk/files/Healthy-Eating/SAGB-squid-factsheet-final.pdf
Taylor CM, et al. (2016). Blood mercury levels and fish consumption in pregnancy: Risks and benefits for birth outcomes in a prospective observational birth cohort. DOI:https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ijheh.2016.05.004
Taylor CM, et al. (2018). A review of guidance on fish consumption in pregnancy: Is it fit for purpose?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6033312/

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Jillian Kubala, MS, RD, Nutrition — Written by Valencia Higuera on June 18, 2020

Can You Eat Calamari During Pregnancy? - Healthline

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media

Parenthood

What’s the deal with mercury?

Is calamari safe to eat during pregnancy despite its mercury content?

How should you cook calamari?

What health benefits does calamari have for pregnant people?

Is other seafood safe during pregnancy?

The takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

What Not To Eat When Pregnant - Pregnancy - Pampers

Can Pregnant Women Eat Calamari (Squid)? Is It Safe?

Can You Eat Calamari When You're Pregnant?

Can You Eat Calamari Or Squid When Pregnant? - Netmums

Can You Eat Calamari While Pregnant? - The List

Can Pregnant Women Eat Calamari? - Peanut App

Is It Safe To Eat Calamari During Pregnancy? - MomJunction

Can Pregnant Women Eat Calamari? - Hello Motherhood

Calamari And Pregnancy: Can Pregnant Women Eat Squid? - Vinmec

Calamari During Pregnancy Is It Safe To Eat? - Being The Parent

Can I Eat Calamari When Pregnant? Just Be Careful | Food - Simple30

Can You Eat Calamari While Pregnant? Squid Explained

Can You Eat Calamari When Pregnant? Is It Safe? - MomInformed

Is It Safe For A Pregnant Woman To Eat Calamari? | Kingdom Of Baby

Contact