Is catfish safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about catfish during pregnancy?

1. Catfish is included among the low-mercury, high-DHA fish species researchers recommend for pregnant women choosing seafood, alongside options like salmon, sardines, and tilapia. 1
2. In a synthesis of US commercial seafood mercury data, farmed catfish, the dominant form sold in American grocery stores and restaurants, averaged about 12 times lower mercury than wild-caught catfish, placing it firmly in the low-mercury category. 2
3. General pregnancy fish guidance recommends about 2 to 3 weekly servings of fish from lower-mercury choices, or 1 weekly serving from moderate-mercury choices, since methylmercury crosses the placenta and can reach the fetus at levels higher than in the pregnant person's own blood. 3
4. Undercooked or raw fish can carry Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, and other pathogens that pose a higher risk during pregnancy, so fish and shellfish should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F. 4
5. Reviews of fish consumption during pregnancy have found the neurodevelopmental benefits of eating a variety of fish, including gains in child IQ and communication skills, generally outweigh mercury concerns once the handful of high-mercury species are avoided. 5

Is catfish safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Catfish's low mercury content and DHA make it a reasonable choice for the first trimester, when many people focus on nutrient-dense, easy-to-tolerate proteins. Cook it thoroughly to avoid adding a foodborne illness risk on top of first-trimester nausea.
• Second trimester. Fish stays a good source of DHA for the baby's developing brain through the second trimester. Catfish is one of the lower-mercury options you can enjoy more than once a week alongside other low-mercury choices.
• Third trimester. Continuing to include low-mercury fish like catfish through the third trimester keeps supporting fetal brain development during a period of rapid growth. The same cooking and serving guidance from earlier in pregnancy still applies.

Catfish serving guidance during pregnancy