I’ve had raw salmon and cold rice without realising I was pregnant

[Sushiscare]

Hi, I’m looking for some advice/reassurance please. I had a raw salmon poke bowl yesterday, sold in a supermarket. It contained raw salmon and cooked white rice, albeit chilled.

I’ve found out today that I’m pregnant; the line is quite strong so I think I’m over 4 weeks. I’ve googled like mad and apparently salmon is the one fish that doesn’t need to be flash frozen before it’s sold Freezing is what kills the bacteria. Also I have checked the packaging and it doesn’t say it was previously frozen.

I’ve done searches on here and although listeria is apparently so rare, there are sadly multiple posters on here who have either miscarried a baby because of listeria, or know someone who has.

I’m so upset. I’m gutted. Can anyone advise please?

Millions of Asian women have eaten raw salmon and rice whilst pregnant, you have nothing to worry about.
avoid it in future if you think it’s not a good idea but otherwise you’re not going to hurt the baby

Please don't worry, it really isn't concerning. You and baby will be fine. Congratulations on your pregnancy xx

The risk was you becoming ill, you haven’t. No need to worry.

I ate it throughout my pregnancies, no advice then on avoiding it ;wasn't as commonly eaten then) my dc have eaten sushi since weaning too. Try not to worry

Apparently listeria can lie dormant for two months though.

It's fine, don't worry.

The chances of getting listeria from anything purchased in a UK supermarket are vanishingly low.

It'll be fine. I ate raw sushi when pregnant and my daughter came out fine

I thought that fish had to be sushi grade to be sold as such. Presumably that has a higher safety standard.

You'll be absolutely fine, OP.
Have you got GAD or health anxiety anyway? That can lead you down many worrying rabbit holes.

You'll be fine. Any raw fish intended to be eaten raw has to be frozen first (UK legislation). https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/freezing-fish-and-fishery-products

No I’m normally quite chilled! I was starting to think a BFP wouldn’t happen, I’ve never been pregnant before so just so worried I’ve ruined it before it’s started!

Thank you all for the reassurances!

honestly the risks are there but they're absolutely tiny as long as it was from a reputable and hygienic place. I was downing long island ice teas and medium steak at six weeks as didn't realise either. it's fine. the chances of anything happening is so low. there's no passing anything through the placenta yet so the risks of passing anything on is virtually nil

Aw don't panic, you'll be fine.
All the best with the rest of it.

I think we've all done something like this (at least once) in our pregnancy OP.
Mine was eating cheese I didn't realise was unpasteurised.

The risk is miniscule but it's human nature to worry. It's a sign you'll be a good mummy!

Congratulations :)

I had poke bowls and salmon a few times in early pregnancy, it's extremely uncommon. I'm 28 weeks with no issues

Well I am reassured to some extent that it was from Waitrose!

Long island ice teas and steak have made me smile. Thank you.

Thank you this is so reassuring!

Speak to your GP or midwife.
You only ate this once so I'm sure there's no reason to get worried and panic

Anecdote alert: a friend of mine ate raw salmon DAILY throughout her pregnancy because she was having a massive craving. She had no idea she wasn't supposed to but probably would have done anyway 😀

Her daughter is now 6.

why? what's the GP going to do? and she won't have a midwife yet at 4 weeks. even if it was dangerous it's already done. nothing can be done

Unless you've had severe diarrhoea and vomitting since eating it, it will be fine. Just like it would be if you've had a glass of wine before knowing.

Just to reiterate I looked at this a lot when I was pregnant as I love sushi! Unless it’s changed in 18 months the guidance was that supermarket sushi is fine as it has to be frozen first. Eating sushi out (ie in a restaurant) is more dicey so I didn’t - Yo Sushi for example explain that theirs isn’t frozen first - so I swerved it out of an abundance of caution. But it would almost certainly have been fine. Congrats on the BFP! Worth looking at the book Expecting Better which iirc goes into more detail.

@Sushiscare I never knew that. Probably good that I didn’t as It would’ve given me something else to worry about.