Can You Eat Mussels When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes — thoroughly cooked Mussels are safe to eat during pregnancy. Avoid them raw.
Why are mussels safe in pregnancy?
Cooked Mussels are safe during pregnancy and a good source of protein and minerals. The caution applies to raw or undercooked shellfish, which can contain harmful bacteria, viruses or toxins that could cause food poisoning. The NHS says cooked shellfish is safe, so Mussels that are piping hot all the way through are fine.
You can also check the calorie content of mussels alongside their safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
The exception
Avoid raw Mussels during pregnancy. Cold pre-cooked Mussels (for example from a deli counter) are also best avoided unless you reheat them until piping hot.
What the sources say about mussels
Mussels are one of the few shellfish the NHS names outright as safe when cooked. Every UK source agrees on the dividing line: cooked is fine, raw is not. The differences are in how much detail each gives about how to cook them.
| Source (page date) | Cooked mussels | Raw or undercooked | How to cook |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS foods to avoid (reviewed 15 June 2026) | Safe: 'cooked shellfish, including prawns, crab, lobster, squid, mussels, scallops, clams and cockles' | Avoid raw shellfish: 'they can contain bacteria or toxins that can make you seriously unwell' | Not specified |
| nidirect (3 April 2025) | Thoroughly cooked shellfish listed as safe | Avoid 'raw shellfish, such as mussels, lobster, crab, prawns, scallops and clams' | Not specified |
| Tommy's (reviewed 6 September 2024) | Mussels are listed as shellfish | 'raw shellfish can cause food poisoning and you should avoid eating it during your pregnancy' | Not specified |
| Healthline (US, 25 February 2021) | Safe when cooked | Avoid raw or undercooked seafood | 145°F (62.8°C) internal; boil covered for at least 5 to 7 minutes; discard cracked mussels and ones that stay shut; avoid imported or self-harvested mussels |
No UK source we read gives a cooking time or temperature for mussels. The Healthline figures are a US article's guidance and we show them as such.
Dish by dish: which mussels count as 'cooked'?
The NHS word is 'cooked'. A plate of moules marinière that arrives steaming with every shell open is cooked. Other forms are less obvious. This table applies the NHS wording to common ways of buying mussels (our reading).
| How you meet them | Fits the NHS wording? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Steamed in a pot at a restaurant | Yes, if served steaming hot | Shells should have opened; leave any that stay shut (Healthline) |
| Cooking fresh mussels at home | Yes, once cooked through | Healthline suggests at least 5 to 7 minutes boiling, covered; cook them yourself and discard shut or cracked shells |
| Frozen or vacuum-packed cooked mussels in a sauce | Yes, if heated through until steaming hot | Follow the pack instructions |
| Cold, cooked mussels from a deli tub or salad | The NHS names mussels as safe when cooked but also says some cold ready-to-eat foods carry listeria; we found no NHS wording on cold shellfish, so we class these as a caution | Heat until steaming hot, or skip. See prawns for how the NHS words cold prawns |
| Raw mussels, or mussels 'steamed until just open' | No: raw or undercooked shellfish is on the avoid list | Order them fully cooked |
Why shut shells matter
The 'discard any that do not open' rule is common on recipes. Healthline repeats it for pregnancy ('If the shells don't open, don't eat them!'), and also tells readers to throw away mussels that stay closed when tapped or have cracked shells. Tasting Table (28 July 2023) pushes back, citing a 2004 study by food scientist Nick Ruello for Seafood Services Australia: mussels close up when stressed by heat, so a closed shell does not prove the mussel is dead, and it cites no food-safety regulator. We therefore give the shell rule only as Healthline's advice, and the simplest pregnancy answer remains the NHS one: only eat shellfish that has been cooked through.
If you ate them raw or undercooked
- Healthline lists vibriosis, gastroenteritis, nausea and vomiting leading to dehydration as the possible effects of bacteria in mussels.
- The NHS says raw shellfish can make you 'seriously unwell'. If you develop sickness or diarrhoea, contact your midwife, GP or NHS 111.
- We found no source giving a rate of illness from one portion, so we give none.
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) — cooked shellfish including mussels safe; raw shellfish avoid, bacteria or toxins
- nidirect: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last updated 3 April 2025) — raw shellfish such as mussels avoid; thoroughly cooked shellfish safe
- Tommy's: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last reviewed 6 September 2024) — raw shellfish can cause food poisoning; mussels and oysters are shellfish
- Healthline: Is it safe to eat mussels and other shellfish during pregnancy? (published 25 February 2021) — US article: 145F, 5 to 7 minutes covered, discard closed or cracked, vibrio, canned or frozen as safer
- Tasting Table: The rule about not eating closed mussels is actually complicated (28 July 2023) — rival commentary: closed shell does not prove a dead mussel (2004 Ruello study for Seafood Services Australia); no regulator cited
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Check Price →Common questions
Can I eat mussels in the first trimester?
Yes — thoroughly cooked Mussels are safe throughout pregnancy, including the first trimester.
Is a small amount of mussels OK during pregnancy?
There is no limit on cooked Mussels during pregnancy.
I accidentally ate mussels while pregnant — what should I do?
If they were cooked, there is nothing to worry about. If you ate them raw, the main risk is ordinary food poisoning — contact your GP or midwife if you develop sickness or diarrhoea, mainly so you can stay hydrated and be checked over.
Is cooked mussels safe in pregnancy?
Yes — cooked is exactly how the NHS says to enjoy Mussels while pregnant.
Are canned or jarred mussels safe in pregnancy?
Tinned meat is on the NHS safe list, but we found no NHS wording on tinned shellfish specifically. Mussels in a tin or jar have been cooked in processing; if in doubt about a cold, ready-to-eat product, heat it until steaming hot. Healthline suggests canned or frozen packaged mussels as a safer alternative to fresh.
What if a mussel does not open when cooked?
Healthline says not to eat mussels whose shells do not open after cooking, and to discard cracked ones. The NHS gives no shell rule.
Do mussels count towards the oily fish or mercury limits?
No. Healthline's mercury warning names large fish such as shark, swordfish and marlin, not mussels, and the NHS lists mussels under cooked shellfish with no weekly limit.
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.