Is Shawarma safe during pregnancy?

Meat & poultry

No official guidance

None of the official sources we searched names shawarma in its pregnancy advice, so there is no official verdict. The general rules below still apply.

No official guidance

We searched these official sources for “Doner”, “Gyro” and “Shawarma”. None names this food in its pregnancy advice, so this page gives no verdict of its own.

General rules that still apply

NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy

  • Meat and poultry › Safe to eat: Chicken, pork, lamb, turkey and duck are safe to eat in pregnancy when thoroughly cooked, with no pink or blood left after cooking.[1]

US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women

  • Safer Choice: All poultry, including ground chicken and turkey, cooked to 165°F[2]
  • Safer Choice: Whole cuts of beef, veal, lamb, and pork cooked to 145°F (then allow the meat to rest for 3 minutes before carving or eating)[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]

US FDA: Dairy and Eggs (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)

  • Avoid eating or tasting foods that may contain raw or lightly-cooked eggs, such as: Homemade mayonnaise[4]
  • Note: Commercial mayonnaise, dressing, and sauces contain pasteurized eggs that are safe to eat.[4]

Sources

  1. 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.
  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.
  4. US FDA: Dairy and Eggs (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.