Raw fish during pregnancy is best avoided: choose fully cooked fish instead. You can still enjoy fish while pregnant because many types are safe when they’re fully cooked. [1] For more detail, see Fish During Pregnancy: Myths and Practical Recommendations.
That distinction can help you make a satisfying choice without treating every sushi-style meal as off-limits. For example, you might order a roll made with cooked ingredients or put together a rice bowl with fully cooked fish. [1]
When you’re looking at a menu or planning a meal, focus on whether the fish is cooked through rather than whether the dish is called sushi. Cooked fish can be served over rice, wrapped in a roll, or added to a warm meal; the format can vary while the fish stays fully cooked. [1]
If you’re craving sushi, you don’t have to give up the flavors and textures you enjoy. Try a sushi-style meal built around rice, vegetables, and cooked ingredients, or choose a roll with fully cooked fish. [1] These options let you keep the meal familiar while avoiding raw or undercooked fish. [1]
At home, you can make a simple bowl with rice, vegetables, and fish cooked all the way through. At a restaurant, look for cooked-fish choices rather than assuming every item on a sushi menu contains raw fish. Fully cooked fish remains an option during pregnancy. [1] You may also find this useful: How Much Fish Can You Eat During Pregnancy?
The practical takeaway is to skip fish that is raw or undercooked and choose fish that is fully cooked. [1] That gives you a clear starting point for deciding what to order or prepare, while leaving plenty of room for sushi-inspired meals.
Why raw and undercooked fish are a concern
Raw and undercooked fish are a concern during pregnancy because they can expose you to harmful bacteria or viruses. [2] That includes fish served raw in sushi and fish that has not been cooked through; the issue is the uncooked preparation, not the fact that it is fish. [2]
Why cooking matters
Cooking is the key distinction: raw or undercooked seafood can carry germs that may cause an infection, while many types of fish are safe to eat when fully cooked. [1] For example, a sushi roll with raw fish and a dish with fish that remains undercooked share the same concern, even if they look very different on the menu. [2]
The reason for the precaution is the possibility of infection from harmful bacteria or viruses in seafood that has not been cooked. [2] This is why the guidance focuses on preparation rather than treating all fish as unsafe during pregnancy. [1]
Exposure is not a certain outcome
Eating raw or undercooked seafood does not, by itself, mean that you became infected or that a pregnancy outcome is certain. [3] The chance of birth defects depends on whether the pregnant person becomes infected after exposure. [3] So an exposure is a reason to pay attention to how you feel, not proof that harm has occurred.
Keep the distinction simple when you are deciding what to eat: avoid the uncooked fish, rather than assuming every fish dish is off limits. [1] A fully cooked fish dish is different from one served raw or undercooked, and many types of fish are safe when fully cooked. [1] That gives you a clearer way to think about sushi and other seafood meals without treating fish itself as the problem.
Which sushi and fish dishes should you skip?
Skip sushi and other dishes where fish is served raw or undercooked; choose fish only when it is fully cooked. [1][2]
Sushi and sashimi
Avoid sushi made with raw fish, including pieces where a slice of uncooked fish sits on top of rice or is rolled inside it. Sashimi—sliced fish served without rice—is also uncooked fish, so it belongs in the same category. [1][2]
The word “sushi” alone does not tell you whether the fish is cooked. For example, a roll may contain raw fish, while another may use fully cooked fish; focus on how the fish itself is prepared. [1]
Raw fish beyond restaurant sushi
Apply the same precaution to raw fish served in other settings, not just sushi restaurants. A dish does not become a cooked-fish option because it is presented as an appetizer, served chilled, or paired with rice or vegetables; if the fish itself is uncooked, skip it. [2]
This includes fish dishes that are cured, marinated, or otherwise served without cooking. For example, citrus-marinated fish may look opaque, but its appearance is not a reason to treat it as fully cooked. [2]
Undercooked fish versus fully cooked fish
Undercooked fish still falls in the group to avoid. If the center is left raw or only partly cooked, treat the dish as undercooked rather than assuming that browning or searing the outside makes the whole portion fully cooked. [1][2]
Fully cooked fish is different from raw or undercooked fish. In a sushi-style meal, that distinction can mean choosing a roll made with cooked fish rather than one filled with raw fish. [1]
When a menu uses a preparation name you do not recognize, ask how the fish is prepared before ordering. You can also check whether a mixed dish contains any uncooked or partly cooked fish, rather than relying on the dish’s name or presentation.
How to satisfy a sushi craving more safely
For a sushi craving, choose rolls made with fully cooked fish or ingredients that do not include fish, and ask the restaurant to clarify anything you cannot identify. This lets you enjoy sushi-style flavors while avoiding raw or undercooked fish. [1][2]
Pick cooked fillings
Look for a menu item that clearly says the fish is cooked, such as a roll made with cooked fish. If the description just names a fish or says “sushi,” don’t assume that means it is cooked; ask the staff how it is prepared. [1]
You can also ask whether the fish is fully cooked before it is added to the roll. If the staff cannot confirm that, choose a different filling or order a sushi option without fish. [1]
Try sushi without fish
A fish-free roll can still give you the sushi experience. For example, look for a roll made with vegetables or other ingredients you enjoy, and check with the restaurant if the menu does not make the ingredients clear.
You can also consider sushi made with other cooked ingredients. Ask what is cooked and what goes into the roll, especially when the menu uses a short name or unfamiliar description. [2]
Ask before you order
A quick question can help when a menu description leaves out how the fish is prepared. You might ask, “Is the fish in this roll fully cooked?” or “Can you suggest a roll with cooked ingredients and no raw fish?” [1]
If the answer is unclear, choose a different dish rather than guessing. You can also ask for a fish-free option, such as a vegetable roll, so you can order with more confidence.
What if you already ate raw fish?
Does eating raw fish mean I’ll get sick?
No. Eating raw fish is an exposure, not proof that you became infected or that harm will follow. The chance of birth defects depends on whether a pregnant person becomes infected after exposure. [3]
It’s understandable to feel worried after realizing a sushi roll or another dish contained raw fish. Try not to treat the meal alone as confirmation that something has gone wrong; focus on how you feel and whether you need help.
What should I do now?
If you feel unwell or have concerns, contact your prenatal clinician. You can explain what you ate, when you ate it, and how you’re feeling so they can advise you based on your situation.
If you feel fine but are still uneasy, you can also call your clinician’s office for reassurance. You don’t need to decide on your own what the exposure means for your pregnancy.
What details should I share with my clinician?
Keep it simple: tell them which dish you ate, whether you know the fish was raw or undercooked, and whether you have any symptoms or other concerns. For example, you might say, “I had a sushi roll with raw fish, and I’m calling because I’m worried.”
If you don’t know exactly what was in the dish, say so rather than guessing. A clear account helps your clinician understand why you’re calling.
Should I wait for a certain amount of time before calling?
Don’t rely on a specific waiting period to decide whether to reach out. If you feel unwell or are concerned, contact your prenatal clinician rather than trying to interpret the exposure by yourself.
A single meal does not tell you whether infection occurred or predict what will happen. Your clinician can help you decide what to do next based on your symptoms and concerns.
A simple rule for raw fish during pregnancy
The simplest rule is to skip raw or undercooked fish for your entire pregnancy. If you want sushi, choose an option made with fully cooked fish or no raw fish, and ask the restaurant if you are not sure how an ingredient is prepared. [1][2]
At the counter or when ordering, focus on what is inside the roll or dish—not just its name. A menu description may not make clear whether the fish is served cooked, so ask directly: “Is the fish fully cooked?” If the answer is unclear, pick another dish instead.
You can still choose a sushi-style meal that fits this rule. For example, ask about a roll with fully cooked fish, or choose one made without raw fish. The key is to confirm that any fish in your order is fully cooked; do not assume from the dish’s name alone.
Keep the same simple check in mind when ordering a bowl or another dish that includes fish. If you cannot confirm it is fully cooked, leave it off your order or choose something else. A quick question before ordering can help you make a choice you feel comfortable with.