Can You Eat Runny Eggs When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes — runny eggs are safe during pregnancy if the eggs carry the British Lion mark (or 'Laid in Britain'). Non-Lion eggs should be cooked until white and yolk are solid.
Why are runny 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 runny eggs alongside their safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
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.
Which eggs can be runny? An egg-by-egg table
Every UK source we read agrees on the main rule, and the interesting part is the edge cases the rival pages leave out:
| Egg | Runny or raw? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hen egg with the red British Lion stamp | Yes: raw, runny or well cooked, before the use-by date | NHS; Tommy's; FSA |
| Hen egg from the 'Laid in Britain' scheme | Yes, same as Lion | NHS |
| Other hen egg (no Lion mark): farm-gate, market, imported, or unmarked | No. Cook until white and yolk are solid | NHS; Tommy's |
| Duck, goose or quail egg | No. Well cooked only | NHS |
| Mayonnaise or mousse made with raw egg | Only with British Lion or Laid in Britain eggs | NHS |
| Shop-bought sauces and desserts | Usually made with pasteurised egg; check the ingredients | Tommy's |
How big is the risk, in the regulator's own words
A Food Standards Agency risk-profile statement describes the risk of Salmonella from eggs produced under the Lion Code (or a demonstrably equivalent scheme) as 'very low', meaning 'very rare but cannot be excluded'. For non-Lion hen eggs it says 'low', meaning 'rare, but does occur'. The FSA statement cites the 2016 advisory committee conclusion that it would be possible to serve raw or lightly cooked Lion eggs to more vulnerable people, which led to the 2017 change in advice. Tommy's explains why: Lion hens are vaccinated against salmonella and the eggs are regularly tested. Both are rare events; the Lion code is why the NHS says one is fine and the other is not.
Why your mum told you no runny eggs
The British Egg Industry Council (the industry body behind egginfo.co.uk) says the older advice, to avoid lightly cooked and uncooked egg recipes in pregnancy, came from the Department of Health after the 1988 salmonella scare and predates the Lion scheme, which began in 1998. The FSA reviewed the advice in 2017 and the guidance changed. If a parent or an older relative told you runny eggs were off limits, they were right for decades. Note that the egg industry body is not a neutral source, but its account matches Tommy's and the FSA.
Dippy eggs, restaurants and homemade sauces
- Boiled egg and soldiers at home. Check the shell or box for the red lion before leaving the yolk runny. No lion? Boil until the white and yolk are solid.
- Café or restaurant. Staff often cannot say which eggs they use. If they cannot confirm British Lion, choose a well-cooked egg. Our judgement.
- Homemade mayonnaise, aioli, hollandaise, mousse, tiramisu, ice cream. The NHS names mayonnaise and mousse: only with Lion eggs. The same logic applies to other raw-egg recipes. See mayonnaise, hollandaise and tiramisu.
- Eggs bought abroad. They will not carry the British Lion mark, so treat them as non-Lion and cook them through.
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) — British Lion and Laid in Britain eggs raw, runny or cooked; other hen eggs well cooked; duck, goose, quail well cooked; raw-egg mayonnaise and mousse only with Lion eggs
- NHS Wales 111: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last updated 23 July 2026) — same rule: eggs without Lion or Laid in Britain only well cooked
- Tommy's: Is it safe to eat raw or runny eggs in pregnancy? — Lion Code requirements (vaccination, testing, hygiene, cool transport); non-Lion eggs cooked thoroughly; symptoms; supermarket foods usually use pasteurised egg
- Food Standards Agency: statement of purpose for a risk profile on Salmonella in UK-produced hen shell eggs — FSA statement: Lion eggs 'very low' risk, non-Lion 'low'; 2016 ACMSF conclusion; 2017 advice update
- British Egg Industry Council (egginfo.co.uk): Can you eat runny eggs when pregnant? — industry body: 1988 advice, 2017 review; Lion scheme started 1998
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Check Price →Runny Eggs: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| While breastfeeding | Safe |
Common questions
Can I eat runny eggs in the first trimester?
Yes — Lion-stamped runny eggs are safe at every stage of pregnancy, including the first trimester.
Is a small amount of runny eggs OK during pregnancy?
There is no need to limit Lion-stamped runny eggs during pregnancy. Eggs are an excellent source of protein, choline and vitamin D.
I accidentally ate runny eggs while pregnant — what should I do?
If the eggs were Lion-stamped, there is nothing to worry about. If they weren't, the risk of salmonella from a single serving is still low — salmonella is unpleasant but very rarely harms the baby directly. Contact your GP or midwife if you develop sickness, diarrhoea or fever.
Is cooked runny eggs safe in pregnancy?
Yes — thoroughly cooked eggs (firm white and yolk) are safe in pregnancy regardless of where they come from.
How do I know an egg is British Lion?
Look for the red lion mark on the shell and on the box. The NHS and Tommy's both tie the runny-egg allowance to that mark or the 'Laid in Britain' logo.
Can I have a dippy egg in the first trimester?
Yes, on the same terms: British Lion or Laid in Britain eggs only. The advice does not change by trimester.
What if I ate a runny egg that wasn't Lion?
The FSA rates the risk from non-Lion hen eggs as 'low' (rare, but it does occur). Most people will be fine. Contact your midwife or GP if you get symptoms of food poisoning, such as severe vomiting and diarrhoea, stomach pain, headache or fever (Tommy's).
Is it safe to eat runny eggs in restaurants when pregnant?
Only if you know they are British Lion eggs. If you cannot find out, order the egg well cooked, with a solid white and yolk.
Are eggs from another country safe to eat runny?
The runny-egg allowance applies to British Lion and Laid in Britain eggs. Eggs from elsewhere do not carry that mark, so cook them until the white and yolk are solid.
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.