Can You Eat Eggs When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes — eggs are safe during pregnancy. British Lion or 'Laid in Britain' eggs can even be eaten runny; other eggs should be cooked until firm.
Why are eggs safe in pregnancy?
The NHS says raw, runny or soft-cooked hen eggs are safe during pregnancy as long as they are produced under the British Lion Code of Practice or the 'Laid in Britain' scheme — look for the lion or LIB stamp on the shell or box. These hens are vaccinated against salmonella, so the risk is very low. Eggs without these marks, including eggs from other countries and some farm-gate eggs, should be cooked until both the white and yolk are firm.
You can also check the calorie content of eggs alongside their safety information. Dog owners should check if eggs are safe for dogs before sharing, and cat owners can check whether cats can eat eggs.
The exception
If your eggs are not Lion-stamped or 'Laid in Britain', cook them thoroughly — no runny yolk or white — to remove the salmonella risk. Duck, goose and quail eggs are not covered by the Lion scheme and should always be cooked through.
The rule depends on the egg, not the dish
Since the 2017 change in UK advice, the safe way to eat an egg in pregnancy depends on whether it is a hen egg produced under a recognised scheme. The NHS (page last reviewed 15 June 2026) and Food Standards Scotland (letter of 29 July 2021) say the same thing:
| Egg | How you can eat it | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hen egg with the red British Lion stamp | Raw, runny or well cooked, as long as it is eaten before the use-by date | NHS |
| Hen egg produced under the Laid in Britain scheme | Same as Lion: raw, partially cooked (runny yolk) or well cooked | NHS; FSS |
| Hen egg with no Lion stamp, or you cannot tell | Well cooked only: not raw, not partially cooked | NHS; FSS says 'if in doubt' cook thoroughly |
| Duck, goose or quail egg | Cook thoroughly. FSS says they carry a higher salmonella risk and should not go in raw or lightly cooked dishes | NHS; FSS |
| Egg at a restaurant, cafe or takeaway | Ask. FSS says caterers who cannot verify their supply should cook egg dishes thoroughly or use pasteurised egg | FSS |
FSS and the FSA say they do not recommend Lion Code or Laid in Britain eggs over other reputable quality schemes, but only those two schemes have been assessed so far, so they are the only ones the advice names. Neither the NHS page nor the FSS letter we read gives minutes or a temperature for 'thoroughly cooked'. Our plain reading: no runny white, no soft or runny yolk.
Dish by dish: Lion egg or not?
Same two rules, applied to the ways people actually cook eggs. This table is our application of the NHS and FSS rules, not a quoted list.
| How it is cooked | Lion / Laid in Britain egg | Unstamped or unknown egg |
|---|---|---|
| Hard-boiled | Fine | Fine (yolk and white are set) |
| Soft-boiled, 'dippy' egg | Fine | Cook longer until the yolk is set |
| Fried, sunny-side up | Fine | Fry until the white and yolk are firm, or flip |
| Poached | Fine | Cook until the yolk is set |
| Scrambled | Fine, even if soft | Cook until no liquid egg remains |
| Omelette, frittata, quiche | Fine | Cook through |
| Homemade mayonnaise, mousse, hollandaise, tiramisu | Fine (the NHS names mayonnaise and mousse for Lion eggs) | Avoid |
| Raw egg in a smoothie, cake batter or cookie dough | Lion eggs are covered by the NHS 'raw' wording | Avoid |
Supermarket mayonnaise, mousse and sauces generally use pasteurised egg, according to Tommy's, which says to check the ingredients. See runny eggs for the FSA risk wording and mayonnaise for restaurant sauces.
Reading the stamp
- Look for the lion. The NHS wording is 'the red British Lion stamp'. Mother & Baby says over 90% of UK eggs are produced under the scheme; we could not check that figure against an official source.
- It is the British Lion, not 'Red Lion'. Mother & Baby's page calls it the 'Red Lion Stamp'; the NHS wording is 'the red British Lion stamp'.
- Check the box, not the shop. Farm-gate, market and imported eggs may carry no scheme mark, and the sources do not say whether an imported egg counts. No mark means treat it as an ordinary hen egg and cook it well.
- Storage. FSS: keep eggs in a cool, dry place, ideally the fridge, and look out for the best before date.
Egg dishes and leftovers
Food Standards Scotland says to eat egg dishes as soon as possible after you prepare them. If you will not eat them straight away, cool them quickly, refrigerate and eat within 2 days. It also says a hard-boiled egg keeps up to 2 days in the fridge, with or without the shell. See how long hard-boiled eggs last and boiled eggs when pregnant.
If you ate a runny non-Lion egg
Salmonella can cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea, stomach pain, a headache and fever. Tommy's says it will not harm your baby but pregnancy raises your risk of catching it. If you develop these symptoms, tell your midwife or GP, or call NHS 111 (our suggestion, not Tommy's wording).
Why bother with eggs at all?
The British Egg Industry Council (an industry body, so read it as such) lists riboflavin, vitamin B12, vitamin D, selenium, iodine, folate and choline, and says there is no limit on eggs in pregnancy. We found no NHS egg limit on the foods-to-avoid page, which only restricts how they are cooked. Boots and Mother & Baby both describe eggs as safe in the UK when Lion-stamped.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page last reviewed 15 June 2026) — Lion and Laid in Britain eggs raw, runny or cooked before use-by; other hen eggs well cooked; duck, goose and quail well cooked; last reviewed 15 June 2026
- Food Standards Scotland letter to Lead Food Officers (29 July 2021): update of FSS advice on raw and lightly cooked eggs — pregnant women can eat raw or lightly cooked eggs from Lion Code or Laid in Britain; if in doubt cook thoroughly; duck, goose, quail higher risk; caterers: cook thoroughly or pasteurised
- Food Standards Scotland: Eggs (food safety at home) — cool dry place, ideally fridge; egg dishes within 2 days; hard-boiled up to 2 days
- Tommy's: Is it safe to eat raw or runny eggs in pregnancy? — salmonella symptoms; pregnancy raises risk; supermarket foods usually use pasteurised egg; mousse and mayonnaise with Lion eggs
- British Egg Industry Council (egginfo.co.uk): Can you eat eggs when pregnant? — industry body: nutrients, no limit on eggs; Lion eggs safe runny
- Mother & Baby: Eating eggs in pregnancy, are they safe? (undated) — rival (undated): 'Red Lion Stamp' naming; over 90% claim; no sources linked
- Boots: An easy guide to what is and isn't safe to eat in pregnancy (undated) — rival (undated): FSA changed advice; Lion-stamped raw or lightly cooked fine
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Check Price →Eggs: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| While breastfeeding | Safe |
| In the fridge | 3–5 weeks in the fridge |
| In the freezer | Not recommended |
| Reheating | Yes — once, piping hot |
| Past the date on the label | 1–2 days after, if cooked well |
Common questions
Can I eat eggs when pregnant in the UK?
Yes. The NHS says hen eggs with the red British Lion stamp, or produced under the Laid in Britain scheme, can be eaten raw, partially cooked or well cooked. Other hen eggs should be well cooked.
Can I eat a soft-boiled egg or dippy egg when pregnant?
Yes if the egg has the British Lion stamp or is Laid in Britain. If not, cook it until the white and yolk are firm.
Can I eat scrambled eggs when pregnant?
Yes. Lion eggs can be eaten even if the scramble is soft. With an unstamped egg, cook until no liquid egg remains.
Are duck, goose and quail eggs safe in pregnancy?
Only thoroughly cooked. The NHS says they should be well cooked, and Food Standards Scotland says they carry a higher salmonella risk.
Can I eat eggs at a restaurant when pregnant?
Ask what the eggs are. Food Standards Scotland says caterers who cannot verify their supply should cook egg dishes thoroughly or use pasteurised egg.
How many eggs can I eat when pregnant?
The NHS foods-to-avoid page gives no number. The British Egg Industry Council, an industry body, says there is no limit.
Do I need to avoid eggs in the first trimester?
No. The same rules apply throughout pregnancy: Lion or Laid in Britain eggs any way you like, other hen eggs well cooked.
Related answers
Primary source: NHS foods-to-avoid guidance.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.