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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

HELP PLEASE ASAP! Fish restaurant for dinner

53 replies

HPSource · 15/04/2011 13:30

I have to go out for dinner tonight with work and just realised we are going to a fish restaurant... can anyone remember what I can/cannot eat? First trimester so trying to be discrete!

OP posts:
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debka · 15/04/2011 13:31

Just avoid raw fish. Everything else is fine.

debka · 15/04/2011 13:32

(avoid raw seafood too)

KateeHasABunInHerOven · 15/04/2011 13:32

You can eat anything except shark, marlin and excessive amounts of fresh tuna (but a steak would be ok)... avoid shellfish. The shark etc. is because of the high levels of mercury.

Enjoy!

Leilababyno1 · 15/04/2011 13:37

Have anything you like!

Even raw fish is fine at reputable establishments, hence why people often make the mistake in thinking they cannot eat sushi- but oh they can!!! As nearly all raw fish is frozen before it is prepared for consumption.. (have a lot at the food standards/nice guidelines).

Enjoy!!

littlemissw · 15/04/2011 13:37

''Fish with Mercury: Fish that contain high levels of mercury should be avoided. Mercury consumed during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain damage. A sample of these types of fish include: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Canned, chunk light tuna generally has a lower amount of mercury than other tuna, but still should only be eaten in moderation. Certain types of fish used in sushi should also be avoided due to high levels of mercury. Please see Mercury in Fish for specific types of fish and further information on how to calculate mercury levels.'' Quoted from here

littlemissw · 15/04/2011 13:40

Sorry, from here

Leilababyno1 · 15/04/2011 13:41

Fish with mercury- is true...but assuming this lady is not going to be eating fish every evening for the rest of her pregnancy??!!- a couple of small mackeral or 1 tuna steak on occasion is not going to be damaging..

thumbwitch · 15/04/2011 13:45

small mackerel are not an issue as they aren't large predator fish, so they haven't concentrated the mercury. King mackerel are mentioned in the link (different fish)

When I was pg I stayed away completely from all raw fish, all shellfish and all large predator fish - it's up to you how far you want to take the risk avoidance. :)

HPSource · 15/04/2011 13:46

Thank you ladies, super helpful and super quick! Love mumsnet!

OP posts:
Butterbur · 15/04/2011 13:46

Freezing does NOT kill bacteria, including Listeria. I thinkpeople should know.

Leilababyno1 · 15/04/2011 14:00

Helpful extract:

Written by: Sarah Schenker a qualified registered dietitian and registered public health nutritionist. She is a member of the British Dietetic Association, The Nutrition Society, the Guild of Health Writers and has served on professional and government committees

'It's safe to eat sushi when you're pregnant, as long as any raw fish used to make it has been frozen beforehand.

Raw fish can contain parasites such as tapeworms. Tapeworms can make you ill and sap your body of the nutrients that you and your baby need. Freezing raw fish kills the parasites and makes it safe to eat.

Supermarket sushi should be safe for you to eat. Sushi sold in supermarkets has been ready-made in the factory, and any raw fish should have been frozen. The same goes for any restaurant which buys in ready-made sushi. Ask a member of staff or check the packaging if you are unsure.

If a shop or restaurant makes its own sushi, the fish might not have been frozen beforehand. If you're concerned, ask the staff if they freeze fish before serving it raw.

If your sushi contains smoked salmon, this doesn't need to be frozen before you eat it. Smoking the fish kills any parasites, so you can eat smoked fish during pregnancy. Other methods, such as salting or pickling, also make raw fish safe to eat.'

thumbwitch · 15/04/2011 14:17

That's just for bloody parasites! nothing to do with bacteria that could give you food poisoning, which is the primary reason to avoid raw fish, IMO, ditto shellfish.

lilly13 · 15/04/2011 14:24

Everything is fine in a good restaurant in UK, except marlan, sordfish and shark. I personally stayed away from oysters. Raw fish / selfish is okay.

frakyouveryverymuch · 15/04/2011 14:36

Agree with thumb - bacteria, such as listeria, survive freezing and I personally don't take the risk.

Leilababyno1 · 15/04/2011 15:06

thumbwitch-By a copy of Mother and Baby magazine this month- big article, written by a MW on the myths on what you can/can't eat in pregnancy. Massive section on sushi/raw fish (BY THE WAY, listeria is is an intracytoplasmic parasite!)- there are NEW guidelines, that are now stating that as long as purchased from reputable shop/restaurant, it is safe to eat!

But of course EVERYONE on MN (including me) thinks they know it all! Each to their own!!

quasimodo123 · 15/04/2011 15:18

I am sure that one of by books says avoid swordfish as well as those mentioned above. Although couldnt tell you why for definite, think its for the same reasons as shark etc.

thumbwitch · 15/04/2011 15:22

Try again - Listeria monocytogenes is quite definitely a bacterium. Sorry and all that. I could bore you with my qualifications as to why I know that but I won't. It is not a parasite in the taxonomical classification of micro-organisms, and it is not killed by freezing. It is one of the few bacteria that can survive fridge temperatures by going into stasis; and it will happily reproduce at about 10deg C which is why it is a big issue in cook-chill foods that are not refrigerated at a low-enough temperature.

I don't give a flying fuck what "a MW" says - I would rather trust my own education in these matters.

frakyouveryverymuch · 15/04/2011 15:23

Listeria monocytogenes are definitely bacteria, and they're the main agent of listeriosis. It becomes parasitic by an absolutely fascinating mechanism though.

But there's a distinction between the parasitic form and the free ranging bacteria. One dies with the host upon freezing, the other does not.

Leilababyno1 · 15/04/2011 15:25

...And anyway the only reason the NHS advises us not to eat raw fish is because of the risk of food poisioning or because certain fish contain high mercury levels, not because of listeriosis. Hence, why I mentioned freezing before consumption.

Leilababyno1 · 15/04/2011 15:30

Can't believe our lives are so dull, that we've gotten into an argument about raw fish and pregnancy.......think we all need to get out more- maybe a fish restaurant for tea?? Grin

Anyway, I'm boring myself- I digress.

thumbwitch · 15/04/2011 15:32

But again, Leila, and I will keep on picking you up on this because you are spreading misinformation, food poisoning is caused by bacteria that are NOT killed by freezing. So freezing fish is irrelevant to food poisoning!

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 15/04/2011 15:34

Pregnant women are adviced to avoid may varieities of chiller cabinet food because of the listeria risk. So yes, I would avoid sushi. I would be nervous of any chilled food containing rice tbh - not because of listeriosis but because any food poisoning in pregnancy is bloody horrible.

frakyouveryverymuch · 15/04/2011 15:39

Eh? Listeriosis is food poisoning!

2 separate issues - 1 is mercury contamination from game fish like shark, marlin etc, the other is the food poisoning risk which comes from all raw chilled foods in the form of listeria.

Excellent food hygiene reduces the listeria risk but I still wouldn't eat it in a restaurant or from a chill cabinet display.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 15/04/2011 15:40

Sorry for typos there Blush

I do feel quite strongly about this though.

Leilababyno1 · 15/04/2011 15:41

From what I've read, I disagree. Everyone is entitled to voice their opinion.

More to the point: If anyone is going to take literal advice, regarding something so important from ANY of us on an ONLINE CHAT FORUM they are irresponsible. When it comes to safety in pregnancy, it is up to all of us to do our own research and ask our doctors/health care professionals if we are concerned about something.