Can you eat smoked salmon when pregnant?
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Leesduur: 3 min
It's understandable that you can't eat everything when you're pregnant. Some pregnant women avoid certain types of fish because of the mercury and other contaminants they contain.
Salmon is a healthy source of lean protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. It also has a low mercury content. However, some women avoid certain types of salmon during pregnancy, such as smoked salmon.
Smoked salmon is indeed a source of healthy nutrients, but it's often not cooked. But can you eat smoked salmon during pregnancy? We'll explain in this article!
Cold-smoked salmon is undercooked and may contain parasites and listeria, so avoid it if pregnant.
Hot-smoked salmon is fully cooked and therefore usually safe for pregnant women.
Smoked salmon is high in sodium; consume in moderation to avoid blood pressure problems during pregnancy.
Pregnant and smoked salmon
First of all, smoked salmon can be divided into two categories:
- Cold-smoked salmon – This salmon is dried and smoked at 21-32°C. Therefore, the fish is not fully cooked. This creates a bright color and a tender texture.
- Hot-smoked salmon – This salmon is brined and smoked until its internal temperature reaches 57-75°C. Because the fish is fully cooked, the flesh is firm and has a strong flavor.
In short, cold smoked salmon is not cooked through while hot smoked salmon is fully cooked.
The way the salmon is smoked is often indicated on the label. Some packages even state that the smoked salmon is pasteurized. You can safely eat this hot-smoked salmon if you are pregnant.
Caution: Do not eat raw salmon when you are pregnant!
Due to the health risks of eating undercooked fish, pregnant women should NOT eat cold-smoked salmon. There are several risks associated with this. These risks are explained below.
1. Risk of parasites
Eating raw or cold-smoked salmon carries a risk of parasitic infections. Tapeworms are one of the most common parasites found in salmon. They can cause nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and extreme weight loss. They can also lead to nutritional deficiencies.
When you're pregnant, it's crucial to prevent tapeworms. This puts the health of your unborn child at risk, as there's a risk of malnutrition.
The best way to kill parasites like tapeworms in salmon is to heat the fish to an internal temperature of 63°C (140°F). This is the case with most types of hot-smoked salmon.
2. Higher risk of listeria
Listeria is a foodborne illness caused by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Eating raw or undercooked fish, such as cold-smoked salmon, poses a risk of Listeria.
Pregnant women are up to 18 times more likely to contract Listeria.(1)
The infection can be passed directly to your unborn child through your placenta. Symptoms range from mild to severe for you. However, the disease can have serious and even fatal side effects for your unborn baby.
To avoid the risk of Listeria, it's important to avoid cold-smoked salmon. Most hot-smoked salmon is safe to eat, as all bacteria are killed during the cooking process.
3. Smoked salmon is high in sodium
Cold smoked salmon and hot smoked salmon are both treated with salt first. This often means they contain a lot of sodium. in the fish.
100 grams of smoked salmon typically contains 30% or more of the daily recommended sodium intake of 2,300 mg for pregnant women.(2)
Too much sodium during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure. Therefore, you should only eat moderately salty foods during pregnancy, such as a small portion of hot-smoked salmon.
Pregnant women can eat hot smoked salmon
Although smoked salmon is very nutritious, it's important to avoid raw and cold-smoked varieties when pregnant. These varieties are not fully cooked and pose serious health risks to you and your unborn child.
On the other hand, hot-smoked salmon is fully cooked and generally safe to eat during pregnancy. However, always check the packaging to ensure the salmon has been heated to at least 63°C.
