Pregnant women often have a long list of foods they should avoid during their pregnancy, and knowing which foods are safe to eat can be confusing. Crawfish is a popular seafood dish, and many pregnant women are curious about whether they can eat crawfish during their pregnancy. Fortunately, the answer is yes–when cooked and prepared properly, pregnant women can safely eat crawfish and enjoy its delicious flavor. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at why and how pregnant women can enjoy crawfish during their pregnancy. We will discuss the health benefits of crawfish, how to cook and prepare it safely, and the potential risks and precautions pregnant women should consider when eating crawfish. So, if you are pregnant and are wondering if you can safely enjoy some crawfish, keep reading to find out more!
Wild vs. farmed
You should be able to ensure that the seafood is low in mercury as long as you choose crawfish that is caught or raised in the United States.
However, that’s not guaranteed if you’re catching your own crawfish. To ensure that the water you are fishing in is clean and free of contaminants, you should look for marine advisories.
In the event that you believe you may have consumed contaminated crawfish, you should watch out for certain symptoms. The main concern is the risk of food poisoning. The following signs and symptoms may manifest one hour to 28 days after eating tainted food:
If you suspect you may have food poisoning, seek medical attention right away because your immune system is compromised during pregnancy.
Thankfully, you don’t have to stay away from crawfish while you’re pregnant. But before you eat it, you do need to make sure it’s fully cooked. And ideally, you ought to give preference to shellfish that is sourced domestically so that you can be sure they are low in mercury.
Last medically reviewed on February 26, 2021
Can Pregnant Women only Eat Cooked Crawfish?
The term “crawfish” will be used throughout this article to avoid any misunderstandings, but this crustacean is also known by other names, including
Crawfish should only be consumed by pregnant women (and anyone else, for that matter!) when fully cooked. Although I haven’t heard of anyone wanting to consume them raw, “undercooked” is a possibility, particularly with large crawfish that may require longer cooking times than you initially anticipate.
Raw shellfish can contain harmful bacteria and pathogens, and raw crawfish can also harbor parasitic diseases, particularly if they’re caught wild (source: FSN). Cooking crawfish makes them safe to eat.
Is it safe for pregnant women to eat just cooked Crawfish?
If you were wondering if pregnant women could eat crawfish, you can now do so knowing that they are safe when cooked properly.
I’ll use the term “crawfish” throughout this article to avoid any confusion, but it’s the same crustacean that goes by a variety of names, including:
FAQ
Why can’t pregnant women eat crawfish?
How much crawfish can a pregnant woman eat?
Can pregnant women eat shrimp and crawfish?
What Seafoods cant you eat while pregnant?
To avoid harmful bacteria or viruses in seafood: Avoid raw fish and shellfish. Examples of raw or undercooked foods to avoid include sushi, sashimi, ceviche and raw oysters, scallops or clams. Avoid refrigerated, uncooked seafood.