Parasites Sushi

What’s the real deal with raw sushi?

I’ve heard a thousand different answers all over the spectrum. Some say no fish, no shellfish at all. Some say no raw fish and no dark fish (like tuna and salmon.) Some say it has mercury, some say it has parasites.

Personally, I think that I would have to give up sushi while pregnant, just to be on the safe side. I would much rather give up the sushi than risk the health of my unborn child. However, the choice is yours personally…here are a couple articles I found that may help.
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Is it safe to eat sushi or seared fish during pregnancy?

Expert Answers
Lindsay L. Whitcomb, CIRS

While many fish when fully cooked are safe to eat during pregnancy, you should avoid all raw or seared fish when you’re pregnant. (Seared fish are typically not fully cooked throughout.) Raw fish, including sushi and sashimi, and undercooked finfish and shellfish (including oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops) are more likely to contain parasites or bacteria than cooked fish.

Avoid swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tile fish, even when cooked. These fish can contain potentially risky levels of methylmercury. Mercury can be transferred to the growing fetus and cause serious health problems.

Avoid game fish, too, until you check its safety with your local health department. A game fish is any fish caught for sport, such as trout, salmon, or bass.

The USDA recommends that pregnant women limit their fish consumption to 12 ounces of a variety of cooked fish per week. For tips on safely preparing fish at home, visit the Food Safety for Moms-to-Be page on the USDA website.

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Mercury Levels in Sushi

Most women who are pregnant or wishing to become pregnant have heard the warnings about eating sushi due to the risk of certain bacteria and increased exposure to mercury. But women also need to remember that not all sushi is uncooked, and most fish contain essential nutrients and vitamins needed for growth and development of their baby. Eating fish that is cooked can help reduce the risk of exposure to certain bacteria. Eating fish that is not on the “high” mercury list is also a way to eat fish safely. There are 4 types of fish that pregnant women should avoid.

The NRDC has compiled a list of fish used in sushi and their levels of mercury. Many of the main sushi type fish contain high levels of mercury and should be completely avoided. If you have further questions regarding sushi, you should talk with your health care provider to get their recommendation.
Highest mercury

AVOID

Kajiki (swordfish)

Saba (mackerel)

Shark

Tilefish
High Mercury

Eat no more than three 6-oz servings a month

Ahi (yellowfin tuna)
Buri (adult yellowtail)
Hamachi (young yellowtail)
Inada (very young yellowtail)
Kanpachi (very young yellowtail)
Katsuo (bonito)
Maguro (bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)
Makjiki (blue marlin)
Masu (trout)
Meji (young bigeye, bluefin* or yellowfin tuna)
Shiro (albacore tuna)
Toro (bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)
LOWER MERCURY

Eat no more than six 6-oz servings per month

Kani (crab)
Seigo (young sea bass)*
Suzuki (sea bass)*
LOWEST MERCURY

Enjoy two 6-oz servings a week

Aji (horse mackerel)
Akagai (ark shell)
Anago (conger eel)
Aoyagi (round clam)
Awabi (abalone)
Ayu (sweetfish)
Ebi (shrimp)
Hamaguri (clam)
Hamo (pike conger; sea eel)
Hatahata (sandfish)
Himo (ark shell)
Hokkigai (surf clam)
Hotategai (scallop)
Ika (squid)
Ikura (salmon roe)
Kaibashira (shellfish)
Kaiware (daikon-radish sprouts)
Karei (flatfish)
Kohada (gizzard shad)
Masago (smelt egg)
Mirugai (surf clam)
Nori-tama (egg)
Sake (salmon)
Sawara (spanish mackerel)
Sayori (halfbeak)
Shako (mantis shrimp)
Tai (sea bream)
Tairagai (razor-shell clam)
Tako (octopus)
Tamago (egg) Tobikko (flying fish egg)
Torigai (cockle)
Tsubugai (shellfish)
Unagi (freshwater eel)
Uni (sea urchin roe)

Chart obtained from the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC); data obtained by the FDA and the EPA.

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