Is Carp safe during pregnancy?
Fish Also called Belli-gende (Kannada).
Good Choice: 1 serving a week
FDA/EPA lists carp as a Good Choice, of which pregnant people can eat 1 serving (4 oz) a week.[1]
What official sources say
US FDA / US EPA: Advice about Eating Fish (For Those Who Might Become or Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding and Children Ages 1 - 11 Years)
- Fish chart:
Carp Good Choice
[1] - Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
Eat 2 to 3 servings a week from the "Best Choices" list (OR 1 serving from the "Good Choices" list).
[1] - Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
1 serving is 4 ounces
[1] Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding consume between 8 and 12 ounces per week of a variety of seafood from choices that are lower in mercury.
[1]
Related general rules
NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy
- Fish and seafood › Safe to eat: Cooked fish is safe to eat in pregnancy.[2]
US FDA: Meat, Poultry & Seafood (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)
Finfish should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145° F (63° C).
[3]
US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women
- Safer Choice:
Fish cooked to a safe internal temperature of 145°F or until the flesh is opaque and separates easily with a fork
[4]
US FDA / US EPA: Advice about Eating Fish (For Those Who Might Become or Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding and Children Ages 1 - 11 Years)
Some fish caught by family and friends, such as larger carp, catfish, trout and perch, are more likely to have fish advisories due to mercury or other contaminants.
[1]
Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)
| Energy | 127 kcal |
| Protein | 17.83 g |
| Fibre | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Iron | 1.24 mg |
| Calcium | 41 mg |
| Folate (DFE) | 15 µg |
| Folate, total | 15 µg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 9 µg |
| Vitamin C | 1.6 mg |
| Vitamin D | 24.7 µg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.53 µg |
| Choline | 65 mg |
| DHA (omega-3) | 0.114 g |
| EPA (omega-3) | 0.238 g |
| Caffeine | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 49 mg |
USDA FoodData Central: Fish, carp, raw (FDC ID 171952), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.
Sources
- US FDA / US EPA: Advice about Eating Fish (For Those Who Might Become or Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding and Children Ages 1 - 11 Years) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
- 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.
- US FDA: Meat, Poultry & Seafood (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
- US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women · cdc.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.