Is Orange roughy safe during pregnancy?
Fish
Official sources differ
The official sources below do not agree, so each position is shown with who holds it.[1,2,3]
- FDA/EPA: Orange roughy is a Choice to Avoid (highest mercury).
- FSANZ: At most 1 portion a week, with no other fish that week.
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:
Orange roughy Choice to Avoid: HIGHEST MERCURY LEVELS
[1]
FSANZ: Mercury in fish
- Women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy: 1 portion is 150 grams:
1 portion per week of Orange Roughy (Deep Sea Perch) or Catfish and no other fish that week, OR
[2]
FSANZ: Pregnancy and healthy eating
It is safe to eat two to three serves of fish per week, but it is important to limit intakes of fish high in naturally occurring mercury (e.g. flake, swordfish, orange roughy).
[3]
Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)
| Energy | 76 kcal |
| Protein | 16.41 g |
| Fibre | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Iron | 1.01 mg |
| Calcium | 9 mg |
| Folate (DFE) | 26 µg |
| Folate, total | 26 µg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 21 µg |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.38 µg |
| DHA (omega-3) | 0.015 g |
| EPA (omega-3) | 0.004 g |
| Caffeine | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 72 mg |
USDA FoodData Central: Fish, roughy, orange, raw (FDC ID 175133), 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.
- FSANZ: Mercury in fish · foodstandards.gov.au. © Food Standards Australia New Zealand, licensed under CC BY 4.0; quoted. No endorsement implied.
- FSANZ: Pregnancy and healthy eating · foodstandards.gov.au. © Food Standards Australia New Zealand, licensed under CC BY 4.0; 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.