Is It Safe to Eat Smoked Salmon During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy brings many unanswered questions, and here at Smokin’ Brothers we wanted to do our bit and answer the age-old question ‘is it safe to eat smoked salmon during pregnancy’ for you.

Smoked salmon is served in two forms: cold-smoked and hot-smoked. Smoking is the process of preserving the fish through presenting it to the smoke emitted from fire. First used as a preservation technique during the caveman era, nowadays smoking is used as a culinary process to transform the flavor and texture profile of fish and meats.

There are two nuanced smoking techniques: cold-smoked and hot-smoked. And when discussing if it is safe to eat smoked salmon during pregnancy, it is essential to distinguish between the two.

Cold-smoked process:

1. Smoking typically happens below 90°F/32°C. 
2. The process often ranges from six to 24 hours. 
3. The salmon is not cooked during the smoking process.

You can read more about both processes, and bust some common myths about the cold-smoking process, in this Smokin’ Brothers blog article.

Hot-smoked process:

1. Cooked at a higher temperature than cold-smoking, between 120°F/49°C to 180°F/82°C.
2. The process usually takes just a few hours.
3. The salmon is fully cooked during the smoking process.

Risks:

Cold-smoked salmon has the potential to contain Listeria monocytogenes, due to the cold-smoking process not cooking - therefore killing - potential foodborne bacteria that have contaminated the fish.

The presence of the Listeria bacteria can lead to Listeriosis, a serious infection for pregnant women and their unborn babies.

Hot-smoked salmon has been fully cooked during the smoking process, meaning any bacterial contamination of the fish has been destroyed through the high smoking temperature.

As such, cold-smoked salmon is not a safe choice for consumption during pregnancy.

More information:

1. Healthcare providers offer a wealth of information to support women and their dietary choices during pregnancy. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service provides a robust online offering that is accessible globally and full of useful information.
2. This article by Healthline is a wonderful resource that is jam-packed with detail and explanation on the topic of if it is safe to eat smoked salmon during pregnancy, and it definitely worth a read.

Conclusion:

Salmon, including smoked salmon, contains a multitude of health benefits for pregnant women, including Omega 3 fatty acids essential for fetal development.

While cold-smoked salmon should be avoided during pregnancy due to the risk of Listeriosis, hot-cooked smoked salmon or fully cooked salmon is a safer choice for pregnant women.

Always consult with your healthcare provider when making dietary choices during pregnancy - and may all of us at Smokin’ Brothers wish our pregnant readers a happy and healthy pregnancy.