Is Pomegranate safe during pregnancy?

Fruit Also called Bedana (Bengali); Madhulam pazham (Tamil); Danimma pandu (Telugu); Dalimb (Marathi); Mathalam pazhham (Malayalam); Dalimbari (Kannada); Dadam (Gujarati).

Juice may be safe; little known about other forms

NIH NCCIH says pomegranate juice may be safe in pregnancy but little is known about other forms or parts of the plant.[1]

What official sources say

NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: pomegranate

  • Drinking pomegranate juice during pregnancy or while breastfeeding may be safe. Little is known about whether it's safe to use other forms of pomegranate or other parts of the plant during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.[1]

Related general rules

NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy

  • Fruit and vegetables › Safe to eat: Most fruits and vegetables are safe to eat in pregnancy, as long as they are washed thoroughly first.[2]
  • Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly to remove soil, because soil can carry bacteria that may make you ill.[2]

US FDA: Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)

  • Thoroughly rinse raw fruits and vegetables under running water before eating or preparing them, especially fruits that require peeling or cutting - like cantaloupe and other melons.[3]

US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women

  • Riskier Choice: Unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, including lettuce and other leafy greens[4]
  • Safer Choice: Washed vegetables and fruits (washed and then cooked are safest)[4]

NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

  • Aim for at least 5 portions of varied fruit and vegetables a day, which can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced, and always wash fresh produce carefully.[5]

Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)

Energy83 kcal
Protein1.67 g
Fibre4 g
Sugars13.67 g
Iron0.3 mg
Calcium10 mg
Folate (DFE)38 µg
Folate, total38 µg
Vitamin A (RAE)0 µg
Vitamin C10.2 mg
Vitamin D0 µg
Vitamin B120 µg
Choline7.6 mg
DHA (omega-3)0 g
EPA (omega-3)0 g
Caffeine0 mg
Sodium3 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Pomegranates, raw (FDC ID 169134), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.

Sources

  1. NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: pomegranate · nccih.nih.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  2. 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.
  3. US FDA: Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  4. US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women · cdc.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.

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.