Can You Eat Mayonnaise When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Shop-bought mayonnaise is generally safe during pregnancy because it usually uses pasteurised egg. Homemade mayo is only safe if made with British Lion eggs.
Why is mayonnaise safe in pregnancy?
Tommy's says supermarket products generally use pasteurised eggs, so jarred and squeezy mayonnaise is fine (check the ingredients if in doubt). The caution applies to homemade or restaurant-made mayonnaise using raw egg: this is only considered safe if the eggs are British Lion stamped. If you can't confirm the eggs used, it's best to skip it.
You can also check the calorie content of mayonnaise alongside its safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
The exception
Ask before eating homemade or restaurant aioli/mayonnaise — it's fine if made with Lion eggs or pasteurised egg, otherwise avoid.
Whose mayonnaise is it? A decision table
The NHS says mayonnaise and mousse made with raw eggs are acceptable only if made with British Lion or Laid in Britain eggs. So the safety question is what kind of egg went into it, and that depends on where the mayonnaise came from:
| Where it came from | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jar or squeezy bottle from a supermarket | Generally fine | Tommy's says supermarket products generally use pasteurised eggs. If in doubt, read the ingredients |
| Homemade | Only with British Lion eggs | NHS |
| Restaurant, pub or deli sauce made in-house | Ask | Raw egg is common in fresh mayonnaise and aioli. Ask whether it is made with pasteurised or Lion eggs |
| Fast-food chain sachets and sauces | Check the chain's statement | McDonald's UK says its mayonnaise and tartare sauce are made with 'pasteurised free range egg', and that Big Mac sauce has no raw egg and is made with pasteurised egg (FAQ dated 21 May 2018). Other chains vary |
| Flavoured aioli, garlic mayo, chipotle mayo, burger sauce | Ask | Same question: which egg? We found no general rule that covers these |
| Vegan mayonnaise | No egg | Check the label says egg-free; not a Lion question |
'Is BurgerFuel aioli safe when pregnant?' and other burger-chain sauces
Searches like 'burger fuel aioli pregnant' are really a request for the chain's own statement. Here is what we could actually verify, and what we could not:
| What we checked | What it says |
|---|---|
| BurgerFuel's UAE website page on its aioli | 'made from pasteurised egg yolk, crushed garlic and canola oil blended into a thick creamy mayonnaise', made daily, no artificial flavours, additives or preservatives. It makes no statement about pregnancy |
| BurgerFuel's New Zealand nutrition information | The version we could retrieve did not include aioli entries or any pregnancy statement; it points to a separate allergen chart |
| Any UK BurgerFuel statement, or flavoured aioli (chipotle, lemon, vegan) | Nothing found, so we cannot say if the recipe is the same in every country or flavour |
Our reading: pasteurised egg is the point. Tommy's describes foods made with pasteurised egg as generally safe, so the UAE page wording is reassuring, but it covers one flavour on one country's website. Ask the store: 'Is your aioli made with pasteurised egg?' If they cannot say, choose another sauce. This applies to any burger chain.
Other raw-egg sauces on a menu
The NHS names mayonnaise and mousse. The same question applies to other sauces thickened with egg yolk, such as hollandaise (see hollandaise) and desserts like tiramisu. Tommy's says supermarket foods generally use pasteurised eggs, which is why pre-packed sandwiches and dips are usually less of a worry than a sauce made fresh in a kitchen.
What to ask, and what to do if nobody knows
- Ask: 'Is the mayonnaise or aioli made with pasteurised egg or British Lion eggs?'
- A clear 'yes' to either is fine. A confident 'it's from a jar' is usually fine too, going by Tommy's.
- 'I don't know' or 'we make it fresh': skip it, or ask for the dish without the sauce.
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) — mayonnaise and mousse made with raw eggs only with British Lion or Laid in Britain eggs; last reviewed 15 June 2026
- Tommy's: Is it safe to eat raw or runny eggs in pregnancy? — supermarket foods usually use pasteurised eggs; Lion eggs raw egg foods such as mayonnaise are fine
- Tommy's: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last reviewed 6 September 2024) — avoid homemade mayonnaise or mousse unless made with Lion eggs; supermarket products generally use pasteurised eggs
- McDonald's UK: Big Mac sauce and raw egg (FAQ dated 21 May 2018) — McDonald's UK: Big Mac sauce made with pasteurised egg, no raw egg (21 May 2018)
- McDonald's UK: Can pregnant women eat your mayonnaise and tartare sauce? — McDonald's UK: mayonnaise and tartare sauce made with pasteurised free range egg
- BurgerFuel (UAE site): aioli — BurgerFuel (UAE site): aioli made from pasteurised egg yolk, garlic and canola oil; no pregnancy statement
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Check Price →Mayonnaise: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| In the fridge (Mayonnaise (Opened)) | 2 months in the fridge; 3–6 months in the cupboard |
| In the freezer | Not recommended |
| Left out overnight | No — throw it away (limit about 2 h) |
Common questions
Can I eat mayonnaise in the first trimester?
Yes — mayonnaise is safe at every stage of pregnancy, including the first trimester.
Is a small amount of mayonnaise OK during pregnancy?
No limit applies. Mayonnaise is not on the NHS list of foods to avoid or limit in pregnancy.
I accidentally ate mayonnaise while pregnant — what should I do?
No action needed. Mayonnaise is safe during pregnancy.
Is cooked mayonnaise safe in pregnancy?
Yes. Mayonnaise is safe in pregnancy. Only the usual rules apply: cook it properly where it needs cooking, keep chilled food chilled, and eat it before the use-by date.
Is aioli safe when pregnant?
It depends on the egg. Aioli served as a dip or burger sauce is often a garlic mayonnaise (BurgerFuel describes its aioli as pasteurised egg yolk, garlic and oil blended into a thick creamy mayonnaise). If it is made with pasteurised or British Lion eggs it is fine; if the staff cannot say, skip it. We found no BurgerFuel pregnancy statement or UK wording.
Is McDonald's mayonnaise safe when pregnant?
McDonald's UK says its mayonnaise and tartare sauce are made with pasteurised free-range egg and that Big Mac sauce contains no raw egg (pasteurised egg), in FAQs it publishes; it also recommends talking to your midwife or doctor.
Can I eat homemade mayonnaise when pregnant?
Only if you make it with British Lion or Laid in Britain eggs. The NHS says raw-egg mayonnaise and mousse are acceptable only with those eggs. See <a href='/can-you-eat-homemade-mayonnaise-when-pregnant/'>homemade mayonnaise</a>.
Is shop-bought mayonnaise definitely made with pasteurised egg?
Tommy's says supermarket foods generally use pasteurised eggs. It is not a legal guarantee we could verify for every brand, so check the ingredients if you are unsure.
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.