Caviar and Fish Roe
Fresh, unpasteurised caviar carries a Listeria risk similar to other chilled ready-to-eat seafood. Pasteurised or cooked roe is a safer choice during pregnancy.
Traditional caviar — the salted, unpasteurised roe of sturgeon and similar fish — is typically kept chilled and eaten cold without any further cooking, which places it in the same category of concern as smoked salmon or pâté: a small but real Listeria risk from a ready-to-eat chilled product. Many types of caviar sold commercially are pasteurised specifically to extend shelf life and reduce this risk, and pasteurised caviar carries the same reduced risk profile as other heat-treated products. Other fish roe, such as the bright orange salmon roe (ikura) or the roe used in some sushi, follows similar logic — if it's raw and unpasteurised, treat it with the same caution as raw fish generally. Cooked roe, such as roe that has been fried or baked as part of a dish, is safe in the same way any other thoroughly cooked fish product is.
What to be aware of
- Check whether caviar or roe is labelled pasteurised — pasteurised products carry a substantially reduced risk.
- If unpasteurised, treat fresh caviar the way you would treat pâté or smoked salmon — an occasional, carefully sourced treat rather than a regular food, and best avoided if you want to eliminate risk entirely.
- Cooked roe (fried, baked, or otherwise heat-treated) is safe in the same way any cooked fish product is.
- Buy from a reputable source and check that products have been stored at the correct chilled temperature.
- As with other fish, be mindful this counts toward your overall weekly seafood intake.
What to eat instead
- Pasteurised caviar or lumpfish roe — Widely available and heat-treated during processing, offering a similar taste and texture experience with a reduced risk profile.
- Cooked fish dishes with roe as an ingredient — Dishes where roe is cooked as part of the preparation remove the ready-to-eat chilled food concern entirely.
NHS guidance: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/
US guidance
US guidance treats unpasteurised, refrigerated caviar with the same caution as other cold, ready-to-eat seafood, recommending it be avoided unless used as an ingredient in a fully cooked dish — a slightly more cautious framing than the UK's general 'eat with care' approach.