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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sushi when pregnant - can I?

34 replies

wondering7777 · 14/10/2019 19:54

I’m currently on holiday in the USA and have found a sushi restaurant with rave reviews that I would love to try. However, I’m also 11 weeks pregnant. Can I go for it or is it too much of a risk?

I know this isn’t technically an AIBU but am posting here in the hope of a quick response!

OP posts:
TheMonkeyWhale · 14/10/2019 19:56

Do you have health insurance? What
Would happen if you fell ill?

I wouldn’t risk it abroad but I would eat in the UK

dementedpixie · 14/10/2019 19:56

Depends if it's been frozen first

Sandsnake · 14/10/2019 19:56

Yeah, it’s fine as long as it’s been frozen beforehand and I think almost all sushi has been. Maybe check they do before though. Enjoy!

midnightmisssuki · 14/10/2019 19:57

the advise is no i believe...

00100001 · 14/10/2019 19:59

It is safe, if it's been frozen before hand. just ask the restaurant.

leghairdontcare · 14/10/2019 20:04

I assumed if it's got rave reviews it might be very fresh. I went to yo sushi and was relying on mass production to get me through. They weren't willing to confirm that anything they served was suitable for pregnant women. I must have looked particularly litigious.

Sallyseagull · 14/10/2019 20:08

As others have said, if frozen before then its ok. You could also go and have sushi with either cooked fish like prawns, soft shell crab or duck etc instead.

ButDoYouAvocado · 14/10/2019 20:15

Sushi doesn't have to be raw fish, loads of it isnt. If you're worried just ask.

GrumpyHoonMain · 14/10/2019 20:18

You can only have sushi while pregnant in the UK as we insist on all fish to be frozen first. It’s really dangerous to do it anywhere else including the US / Japan

dementedpixie · 14/10/2019 20:24

It's not dangerous if you ask in advance whether it has been frozen first

hungrywalrus · 14/10/2019 20:25

Can’t you have the veggie rolls and the ones with cooked prawns etc? That’s what I did. It satisfied most of my craving

Original poster
wondering7777 · 14/10/2019 20:25

It’s really dangerous to do it anywhere else including the US / Japan

Gah! Sounds like it’s a no then. But what do Japanese women do when pregnant out of interest? Confused

OP posts:
ChipsAreLife · 14/10/2019 20:27

I had fresh sushi when early pregnant. I didn't realise you couldn't. It was in a very nice restaurant in London.

I assume Japanese women eat it?!

Happyspud · 14/10/2019 20:27

Many Japanese women eat it while pregnant.

CottonSock · 14/10/2019 20:27

Have the other things, don't miss out.

MonstranceClock · 14/10/2019 20:28

I lived in Japan when I was pregnant with my first, yes we all ate sushi.

GrumpyHoonMain · 14/10/2019 20:34

In Japan the advice from doctors is that you refrain from eating any uncooked fish and meat. The nutritional guidance doesn’t mention it either way - a left over from the times when nearly all pregnancies were amongst Japanese people (Japanese women, like Indian and Chinese women, often don’t any cold food during pregnancy).

onetimeonlyy · 14/10/2019 20:42

Can't you just eat the veggie and cooked fish. They always have other options

dementedpixie · 14/10/2019 20:49

Googling suggests they freeze it in the USA too but ask if unsure

Onelovelyone · 14/10/2019 20:57

I ate vegetarian sushi but not fish options When pregnant so, I wouldn’t eat the fish but would eat that - I was probably being overly cautious. I believe though that NHS advice is don’t!

dementedpixie · 14/10/2019 20:58

The nhs says you can

DangerMouse17 · 14/10/2019 21:02

Of course you can. What do you think Japanese women do?

However I wouldn't if you've never had it before...nor have it from a different place/restaurant than you would usually.

MissPepper8 · 14/10/2019 21:25

I'm pregnant and I love sushi, I settled for the tesco or aldi versions for now incase but I only go vegetarian though. Can't you choose veggy options?

I'd say if you weren't abroad maybe but it's a big risk getting unwell. I don't even risk prawns from Indian takeaways in the UK currently as I've been very unwell previous pregnancy.

Expressedways · 14/10/2019 21:30

I wouldn’t in the US. It’s not always frozen like it is in the U.K. and doctors advise against it. Unless you’re ok with sticking to veggie options then I’d pick somewhere else for dinner.
(And I would eat it happily in the UK, just not in the US.)