Can You Eat Raw Shellfish When Breastfeeding?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS: food and drinks to avoid when breastfeeding · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes. Raw Shellfish is not restricted by the NHS while breastfeeding, but raw shellfish can cause food poisoning for anyone, so cooked is the safer choice.
What the guidance says
Raw shellfish was avoided in pregnancy because food poisoning is more serious then. After the birth the pregnancy rule falls away. Raw shellfish, particularly oysters, can still carry norovirus and other bacteria, and a bout of food poisoning is miserable when you have a baby to look after. Cooked shellfish is the lower-risk option.
You can also check the calorie content of raw shellfish alongside its safety information.
The same answer as oysters, for shellfish generally
This page covers mussels, clams, scallops and other shellfish eaten raw, rather than oysters specifically (see our dedicated oysters-while-breastfeeding page for that one). The pregnancy-specific reasoning (more severe illness, risk to an unborn baby) ends at birth. The general risk does not: raw or undercooked shellfish is a recognised source of norovirus and other food poisoning for anyone, breastfeeding or not.
Cooked shellfish is a different, much lower-risk category
Thorough cooking is widely cited as eliminating norovirus risk from shellfish, per the FSA/FSS policy document we read for the oysters page. If you want shellfish with a lower food-poisoning risk while breastfeeding, cooked is the safer choice over raw, for the same general-population reason it's the safer choice for anyone.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland: Policy response to the norovirus strategic risk assessment (no date shown on the PDF text) — cooking eliminates norovirus risk from shellfish generally
- NHS: Food and drinks to avoid when breastfeeding (published 21 July 2023, modified 28 January 2026) — shellfish not named on the breastfeeding avoid list
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More for the feeding months
Raw Shellfish: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| In pregnancy | Avoid |
Common questions
Is raw shellfish safe while breastfeeding?
Yes. Raw Shellfish is not restricted by the NHS while breastfeeding, but raw shellfish can cause food poisoning for anyone, so cooked is the safer choice.
Why can raw shellfish make you ill?
Shellfish filter seawater and can concentrate bacteria and viruses such as norovirus. Thorough cooking kills them.
Are cooked oysters and mussels fine?
Yes. Cooked until the shells open and the flesh is hot throughout, they're a lower-risk option. Discard any that stay shut.
Was this different during pregnancy?
Yes. In pregnancy our verdict was “avoid”, because of a risk to the unborn baby (see our pregnancy guide). Those reasons ended when your baby was born.
What should I avoid while breastfeeding?
The NHS list is short. Caffeine: try not to have more than 300mg a day (a mug of filter coffee is about 140mg, instant 100mg, tea 75mg). Alcohol: it is safer not to drink, but 1 or 2 units once or twice a week should be fine. Oily fish: no more than 2 portions a week. Shark, swordfish and marlin: no more than 1 portion a week. Peanuts are fine unless you're allergic. Most other foods that were off the menu in pregnancy, such as soft cheese, pâté, cured meat and runny eggs, are not restricted.
Why isn't raw shellfish on the NHS breastfeeding avoid list if it's risky?
The NHS breastfeeding list covers pregnancy-specific risks that genuinely end at birth, such as listeria crossing the placenta. Ordinary food poisoning risk, including from raw shellfish, applies to the whole population and isn't usually written as a separate 'avoid' rule for any one adult group.
Related answers
Primary source: NHS: food and drinks to avoid when breastfeeding.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.