Is Liver (chicken, mutton, beef) safe during pregnancy?

Meat & poultry

Official sources differ

The official sources below do not agree, so each position is shown with who holds it.^[1,2,3,4]

NHS: Avoid liver and liver products in pregnancy (too much vitamin A).
ICMR-NIN: Names liver among good sources of folate on its pregnancy page.

What official sources say

NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy

Meat and poultry › Foods to avoid: Liver and liver products are on the list of foods to avoid in pregnancy.^[1]
Liver and foods that contain it are high in vitamin A, which can harm the baby.^[1]

NHS: Pregnancy vitamins and supplements

Foods high in vitamin A, such as liver, should also be avoided.^[2]

NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

Sources of protein include: Meat is listed as a source of protein, with the exception that liver should be avoided.^[3]

ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024

Green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts and liver are good sources of folate. (p. 19)^[4]

Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)

Energy	119 kcal
Protein	16.92 g
Fibre	0 g
Sugars	0 g
Iron	8.99 mg
Calcium	8 mg
Folate (DFE)	588 µg
Folate, total	588 µg
Vitamin A (RAE)	3296 µg
Vitamin C	17.9 mg
Vitamin D	0 µg
Vitamin B12	16.58 µg
Choline	194.4 mg
DHA (omega-3)	0 g
EPA (omega-3)	0 g
Caffeine	0 mg
Sodium	71 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Chicken, liver, all classes, raw (FDC ID 171060), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.

Sources

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.
NHS: Pregnancy vitamins and supplements · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.
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.
ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 · nin.res.in. Printed page 19. Paraphrased and cited by printed page; the text is not reproduced.

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.