Is It Safe To Eat Soft-boiled Or Raw Eggs During Pregnancy?

• Community
  • Find your birth club
  • Free antenatal classes
  • Meet local parents & parents-to-be
  • See all in Community
• Getting pregnant
  • Ovulation calculator
  • Am I pregnant quiz
  • How to get pregnant fast
  • Best sex positions
  • Signs of pregnancy
  • How many days after your period can you get pregnant?
  • How age affects fertility
  • Very early signs of pregnancy
  • What fertile cervical mucus looks like
  • Think you're pregnant but the test is negative?
  • Faint line on pregnancy test
  • See all in Getting pregnant
• Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy week by week
  • How big is my baby?
  • Due Date Calculator
  • Conception Date Calculator
  • Baby movements week by week
  • Symptoms you should never ignore
  • Hospital bag checklist
  • Signs of labour
  • Your baby's position in the womb
  • Baby gender predictor
  • Vaginal spotting
  • NT scan
  • Fetal development chart
  • See all in Pregnancy
• Baby names
  • Baby names finder
  • Baby name inspiration
  • Popular baby names 2025
  • Numerology calculator
  • Gender-neutral names
  • Old-fashioned names
  • See all in Baby names
• Baby
  • Your baby week by week
  • Baby milestones by month
  • Baby rash types
  • Baby poop chart
  • Ways to soothe a crying baby
  • Safe co-sleeping
  • Teething signs
  • Growth spurts
  • See all in Baby
• Toddler
  • Your toddler month by month
  • Toddler development milestones
  • Dealing with tantrums
  • Toddler meals
  • Food & fussy eating
  • When to start potty training
  • Moving from a cot to a bed
  • Help your child sleep through
  • Games & activities
  • Vomiting: what's normal?
  • See all in Toddler
• Preschooler
  • Your child month by month
  • Food ideas & nutrition
  • How kids learn to share
  • Coping with aggression
  • Bedtime battles
  • Anxiety in children
  • Dealing with public tantrums
  • Great play ideas
  • Is your child ready for school?Top tips for starting school
  • See all in Preschooler
• Life as a parent
  • Postnatal symptoms to watch out for
  • Stitches after birth
  • Postpartum blood clots
  • Baby showers
  • Sex secrets for parents
  • See all in Life as a parent
• Baby essentials
  • Best baby products
  • Best formula and bottles for a windy baby
  • Best car seats if you need three to fit
  • Best nappies
  • Best Moses baskets
  • Best baby registries
  • Best baby sleeping bags
  • Best baby humidifier
  • Best baby monitors
  • Best baby bath seat
  • Best baby food
  • See all in Baby essentials
• Popular searches
  • Back pain in pregnancy
  • Pelvic girdle pain
  • Perineal massage
  • Signs you're having a boy
  • Signs you're having a girl
  • Can you take fish oil while pregnant?
  • 18 weeks pregnant bump
  • Can you eat salami when pregnant?
  • Edwards' syndrome
  • Mucus plug
  • Missed miscarriage
  • Should I harvest my colostrum?
  • Rhesus positive vs. Rhesus negative
  • What do contractions feel like?
  • Hunger in early pregnancy
  • First poop after birth
  • When do babies sit up?
  • When can babies have salt?
  • MMR vaccine rash
  • Vaping while breastfeeding
  • How to transition from formula to milk
  • When do babies start grabbing things?
  • Sperm allergy: can sperm cause itching?
  • How long after taking folic acid can I get pregnant?

• Community
• Getting pregnant
• Pregnancy
• Baby names
• Baby
• Toddler
• Preschooler
• Life as a parent
• Baby essentials

1. Pregnancy /
2. Nutrition in pregnancy

Is it safe to eat soft-boiled or raw eggs during pregnancy?Medically reviewed by Sarah Schenker, Dietitian Written by Holly BennettMost eggs sold in the UK are stamped with a red British Lion Quality mark and are considered safe to eat in pregnancy, soft-boiled or raw. This is because the hens have been vaccinated against salmonella. Salmonella poisoning will not directly harm your baby, but it can be very unpleasant for you and lead to: Advertisement | page continues below

• severe vomiting and diarrhoea
• abdominal pain
• a headache
• a high temperature

If you have eggs which are not stamped with the British Lion mark, cook them thoroughly. Cook the eggs until the yolks and whites are solid. This will destroy any salmonella bacteria, making them safe to eat. VIDEO Here’s how to cook eggs without the British Lion mark so that they’re safe to eat:

• Boil a medium-sized egg for at least seven minutes.
• Fry eggs on both sides.
• Poach eggs until the white is completely set and opaque, and the yolk is firm (about five minutes for a medium-sized egg).

If you’re eating out, or shopping at a deli or market, be cautious when buying sorbet, ice cream, meringue, mousse, tiramisu or mayonnaise (and products that are made with mayonnaise such as coleslaw and potato salad). These often contain raw eggs that you may not know the origin of, so always check the label or ask. Supermarket products are usually made with pasteurised eggs, so are safe to eat. Pasteurisation heats the eggs and kills salmonella bacteria. If you’re making something at home that includes raw eggs, such as royal icing, mayonnaise or meringue, use British Lion eggs or pasteurised egg products. You can buy liquid, dried or frozen pasteurised egg in most supermarkets. Storing eggs safely will help to keep them free of the salmonella bacteria: Advertisement | page continues below

• Keep eggs in the fridge.
• Don’t let eggs come into contact with other foods. Keep them in a separate egg tray or in the box that they were bought in.
• If you eat soft-boiled or runny eggs, make sure that they’re not past their best-before date.
• Don’t use eggs with damaged shells, as dirt or bacteria may have entered.
• Don’t keep hard-boiled eggs in the fridge for more than three days.

When cooking or preparing eggs:

• Don’t splash raw egg over other food, utensils or surfaces.
• Wash and dry your hands thoroughly after touching eggs or cooking with them. Bacteria can sometimes be found on the shell, as well as inside.
• Clean all utensils thoroughly with hot, soapy water.
• Wash kitchen surfaces using hot, soapy water or antibacterial spray and a clean, damp cloth.

Learn more on looking after yourself and your baby when you’re pregnant:

• Get tips on dealing with morning sickness.
• Find out what seafood you can eat when you’re pregnant.
• Get tips on eating during your working day.

Advertisement | page continues belowWas this article helpful?YesNo

• Is it safe to go on a low-carb diet in pregnancy?

  By Lorna Marsh

• Creamy chickpea curry

  By Joanne Lewsley

• Eating well: 9 to 12 weeks

  By Lorna Marsh

• Is it safe to eat peanuts during pregnancy?

  By Lorna Marsh

Track your pregnancy on our free #1 pregnancy & baby appHolly BennettHolly Bennett is a writer and editor who worked as an assistant editor for BabyCentre. She worked on a range of topics including fertility, pregnancy health and nutrition. Opens a new window Opens a new window Opens a new window

Where to go next

Is it safe to go on a low-carb diet in pregnancy?Reviewed by Sasha Watkins, Dietitian Creamy chickpea curryReviewed by Sarah Schenker, Dietitian Eating well: 9 to 12 weeksReviewed by Sarah Schenker, Dietitian Is it safe to eat peanuts during pregnancy?Reviewed by Adam Fox, Consultant paediatric allergistHow to manage a high BMI in pregnancyReviewed by Sarah Schenker, Dietitian 10 pregnancy self-care essentials: photosBy Amalia SmithEating well: 29 to 32 weeksReviewed by Sarah Schenker, Dietitian Aerobics in pregnancyReviewed by Hanna Dabbour, Senior physiotherapist and junior doctorNutrition in pregnancyIs it safe to eat rare or raw meat during pregnancy?Reviewed by Sarah Schenker, Dietitian EpisiotomyReviewed by Emma Dufficy, MidwifeIs it safe to take aspirin during pregnancy?Reviewed by Toni Hazell, GPMy pregnancy week by week2weeks pregnant3weeks pregnant4weeks pregnant5weeks pregnant6weeks pregnant7weeks pregnant8weeks pregnant9weeks pregnant10weeks pregnant11weeks pregnant12weeks pregnant13weeks pregnant14weeks pregnant15weeks pregnant16weeks pregnant17weeks pregnant18weeks pregnant19weeks pregnant20weeks pregnant21weeks pregnant22weeks pregnant23weeks pregnant24weeks pregnant25weeks pregnant26weeks pregnant27weeks pregnant28weeks pregnant29weeks pregnant30weeks pregnant31weeks pregnant32weeks pregnant33weeks pregnant34weeks pregnant35weeks pregnant36weeks pregnant37weeks pregnant38weeks pregnant39weeks pregnant40weeks pregnant41weeks pregnantAdvertisementAdvertisement