Is Biryani safe during pregnancy?

Indian foodMeat & poultry

No official guidance

None of the official sources we searched names biryani in its pregnancy advice, so there is no official verdict. The general rules below still apply.

No official guidance

We searched these official sources for “Biryani”. None names this food in its pregnancy advice, so this page gives no verdict of its own.

General rules that still apply

NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy

  • Meat and poultry › Safe to eat: Chicken, pork, lamb, turkey and duck are safe to eat in pregnancy when thoroughly cooked, with no pink or blood left after cooking.[1]

US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women

  • Safer Choice: All poultry, including ground chicken and turkey, cooked to 165°F[2]

US FDA: Dietary Advice Before and During Pregnancy

  • Rice, which is a major global food source, is also a leading dietary source of arsenic that may have developmental effects on infants and lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes.[3]

US FDA: Eating Out & Bringing In (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)

  • Please always request that your food be cooked thoroughly, especially meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. When a hot meal is served, make sure it's piping hot and thoroughly cooked. If it's lukewarm, send it back.[4]
  • When hot, cooked food is purchased, get the food home quickly and eat it right away. Don't let it sit out at room temperature.[4]

NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

  • Heat ready meals until steaming hot all the way through, which matters most for meals that contain poultry.[5]

FSANZ: Listeria in food

  • Reheat food thoroughly until it is steaming hot (75°C) (advice for vulnerable people, including pregnant women)[6]

US FDA: Ready-to-Eat Foods (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)

  • Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared food, and leftovers within two hours of eating or preparation.[7]

Sources

  1. NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.
  2. US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women · cdc.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  3. US FDA: Dietary Advice Before and During Pregnancy · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  4. US FDA: Eating Out & Bringing In (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  5. NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.
  6. FSANZ: Listeria in food · foodstandards.gov.au. © Food Standards Australia New Zealand, licensed under CC BY 4.0; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  7. US FDA: Ready-to-Eat Foods (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.

Sources checked 26 September 2026.

Quotes are checked word for word against each source page, and paraphrases against the original text. Official bodies are named as sources only: none of them reviewed or endorses this page.

Educational information, not medical advice. Your own doctor or midwife may advise differently for you — follow their advice.