Is Runny / soft-boiled eggs safe during pregnancy?
Eggs
Official sources differ
The official sources below do not agree, so each position is shown with who holds it.[1,2,3,4,5]
- NHS: Runny yolks are fine only for British Lion or Laid in Britain hen eggs, eaten before the use-by date.
- US CDC / US FDA: Runny or undercooked eggs are a riskier choice; cook eggs until yolks and whites are firm.
- FSANZ: Lists lightly poached eggs among higher-risk foods for vulnerable people.
What official sources say
NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy
- Eggs › Safe to eat: Hen eggs with the red British Lion stamp, or produced under the Laid in Britain scheme, are safe in pregnancy raw, partly cooked (runny yolk) or well cooked, as long as they are eaten before their use-by date.[1]
- Eggs › Foods to avoid: Hen eggs without the British Lion stamp, or not produced under the Laid in Britain scheme, should not be eaten raw or partly cooked in pregnancy.[1]
NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy
- Eggs produced under the British Lion Code of Practice are safe for pregnant women to eat raw or partly cooked, because they come from hens vaccinated against salmonella.[2]
US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women
- Riskier Choice:
Raw or undercooked (runny) eggs, and foods that contain raw or undercooked eggs, such as …
[3]
US FDA: Dairy and Eggs (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)
Cook eggs thoroughly until the yolks and whites are firm.
[4]
FSANZ: Food safety for vulnerable people
- Higher-risk foods:
(e.g. in milkshakes, mayonnaise and aioli, lightly poached eggs, mousse, custard)
(advice for vulnerable people, including pregnant women)[5]
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: 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.
- US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women · cdc.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
- US FDA: Dairy and Eggs (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
- FSANZ: Food safety for vulnerable people · 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.