eating shellfish

[seasister]

I'm off to Pembrokeshire tomorrow for a few days where they'll be fish, fish, fish! I know not to eat shellfish, in the main, but what about in a fish stew? A bouillabaisse for example? That would obviously cook the fish/seafood well. We're going to a couple of wonderful fish restaurants, and I'm hunggggggry...

Is the threat food poisoning or listeria? I can never remember

Thanks

But you can eat shellfish! The only "restriction" is that you might want to avoid shellfish that are served raw (i.e. oysters). Everything else is fine.

Enjoy.

Hi seasister - you don't say how pregnant you are? I don't eat meat or chicken and only eat fish, and have continued to eat shell fish throughout all 3 of my pregnancies, and sushi. However, I have never eaten shell fish or sushi in the first trimester. I checked on the govt website about sushi, and they said that as long as it came from a restaurant (as opposed to buying your own raw fish and making it at home, I guess?!) it would be fine as they have to (by law) freeze all fish to a certain temp to get rid of any bacteria. My husband is Spanish and cooks a mean paella with lots of cooked shellfish, mmmm yummy. A bouillabaisse sounds delicious!
FYI i am not a doctor/midwife/or qualified in any way to tell you what you should and shouldn't eat - was just telling you what i have done. Hope it helps! Oh and congrats on your pregnancy!

From the Food Standards Agency:

Foods you don't need to avoid

It can be confusing trying to work out which foods you can eat and which foods you should avoid when you're pregnant. You might find it helpful to look at this list of some of the foods you don't need to avoid:

Shellfish, including prawns - as long as they are part of a hot meal and have been properly cooked

www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/pregnancy/whenyrpregnant/

Oh thanks all. I forgot about the FSA site. Doh! I'm 29 weeks today

x

Bugger, I didn't realise this, I thought it was the mercury thing and have been dutifully avoiding prawns, mussels, etc, even though I love them! I know what I'm having for dinner tomorrow night (not tonight as OH is making steak & ale pie.. mmm)...

i never knew you could eat prawns either! damn that was my first sympton in both pg wanting prawn and mayo sarnies and to think i denied myself !!!

I think sam that your prawn sandwich would be a no because FSA does say 'as part of a hot meal'. So I've always assumed that rules out prawn sandwiches or prawn cocktail.

I don't always abide by all the 'what to eat' rules, but I have avoided cold prawns so far.

phew dont feel annoyed now thanks

I'm sure you can eat prawn cocktail - thry have been properly cooked

Properly cooked but then left to go cold. So possibly allowing bacteria to grow again. I assumed that was why the FSA specifies as part of a hot meal. But they don't make it very clear so it confuses me.

I think with prawn cocktail I would be worried about how long the prawns had been sitting around and where though. Fine if I knew they'd been in the fridge, but what if they've been sat out in a warm kitchen getting stinky?

I think the issue with cold seafood is that it hasn't got a very long shelf life, and you wouldn't want to risk food poisoning when PG. I guess it's wouldn't be so bad if you'd made it yourself as you'd be careful but I personally still wouldn't eat it and definately would steer clear if eating out. Glad to hear I can have it hot though

I'm happy to eat cooked shellfish and sushi whilst pregnant and I do eat cold prawns too, but I avoid the ones I feel may have been hanging around for a while e.g. in pre-made sandwiches at the super market, on buffets or in deli's when you're not sure how long their tub of prawn and mayo has been on the go.