Foods › Meat & Deli

Can I eat carpaccio or raw beef while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Pregnant

✕ Best to avoid

Raw beef may carry toxoplasma or bacteria, so pregnancy guidance commonly advises skipping it.

Breastfeeding

! Use caution

Raw beef carries a general risk of foodborne illness for anyone. Beef cooked through is the lower-risk choice.

A plate of thin raw beef carpaccio slices with arugula and shaved parmesan

Safer swaps while pregnant

Seared beef cooked through
Roast beef served hot

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How these answers are made

Oatleaf answers come from public food-safety guidance, mainly the CDC, FDA and EPA for the US and the NHS for the UK. Each answer cites the pages it relies on, and every link was opened and checked in October 2026. Where US and UK advice differ, the answer says so. Written by the Oatleaf team at Astralab Studios. It is general information, not medical advice.

Last reviewed October 2026.