One of the fun things about being pregnant in London is that I can still eat sushi! How so? The NHS (National Health Service) does not list sushi as a food to restrict in pregnancy, due to fish handling laws. In England, Wales & Northern Ireland the Food Standards Agency, and EU fish freezing rules, require that fishery products intended to be consumed raw or undercooked, including sushi & sashimi, must be frozen before consumption. Specifically, these fishery products must be frozen at -20°C for not less than 24 hours, or -35°C for not less than 15 hours. The freezing must reach all parts of the product. This helps kill any remaining parasites (specifically a worm called Anisakis). To play it safe: consult with your doctor or midwife first, ask staff before you buy and choose fully cooked eel and shrimp. Pictured is the "baby salmon and avocado rolls" from Itsu. According to their website, Itsu salmon and tuna are considered safe to consume raw. Just remember that while fish is a good source of protein and iron -- and omega-3 fats in the case of oily fish -- you should avoid shark, swordfish/Marlin, tilefish and king mackerel in pregnancy and limit albacore/"white" tuna to 6 ounces per week. Learn more at www.food.gov.uk , www.nhs.uk and www.eatright.org.
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