Is King mackerel safe during pregnancy?

Fish

Avoid (highest mercury)

FDA/EPA lists king mackerel as a Choice to Avoid because of its mercury level, and the US CDC lists it among high-mercury fish.[1,2,3]

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: King mackerel Choice to Avoid: HIGHEST MERCURY LEVELS[1]

US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women

  • Riskier Choice: Fish that contain high amounts of mercury, such as …[2]
  • Fish that contain high amounts of mercury, such as: King mackerel[2]

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.[3]

Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)

Energy105 kcal
Protein20.28 g
Fibre0 g
Iron1.78 mg
Calcium31 mg
Folate (DFE)8 µg
Folate, total8 µg
Vitamin A (RAE)218 µg
Vitamin C1.6 mg
Vitamin B1215.6 µg
DHA (omega-3)0.177 g
EPA (omega-3)0.136 g
Sodium158 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Fish, mackerel, king, raw (FDC ID 175122), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.

Sources

  1. 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.
  2. US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women · cdc.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  3. US FDA: Eating Out & Bringing In (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.