Is tuna steak safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about tuna steak during pregnancy?

1. Bigeye tuna carries enough mercury to land on the 'choices to avoid' list, while yellowfin and albacore sit one tier safer as a 'good choice' capped at about one serving a week. 1
2. Aiming for about 12 ounces of fish a week overall, mostly from the lower-mercury 'best choices' group, is the general target during pregnancy. 1
3. Moderate fish intake during pregnancy is linked to better brain development for the baby, not worse, as long as the fish chosen is genuinely low in mercury. 2
4. A tuna steak seared rare in the center carries the same undercooked-seafood risk as sushi, including Listeria, a bacteria linked to preterm delivery and pregnancy loss. 3
5. Cooking a tuna steak all the way through to at least 145°F moves it out of the raw-fish risk category entirely, so asking for it well-done is a real, simple fix. 3

Is tuna steak safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Morning sickness can make fish unappealing early on, and that's completely fine. Once you're ready for tuna steak, start the habit of asking two things: what kind of tuna it is, and whether the kitchen can cook it all the way through instead of searing it rare.
• Second trimester. Appetite often picks back up now, so tuna steak may show up more at dinners out or date nights. Keep asking about the species and the doneness every time, even at a restaurant you already trust.
• Third trimester. Keep track of your fish total for the whole week, not just this one meal. Stick with a fully cooked, lower-mercury tuna steak, since this is a good stretch to avoid any extra foodborne illness risk so close to delivery.