can I eat mayonnaise?
Shop-bought mayonnaise is safe during pregnancy — it's made with pasteurised egg. Homemade or restaurant-made mayonnaise using raw eggs is only safe in the UK if made with Lion-stamped eggs; otherwise it's best avoided.
why it matters
The worry with mayonnaise is raw egg and salmonella. Commercial mayonnaise (Hellmann's and the like) uses pasteurised egg, which removes the risk entirely. Fresh mayonnaise made from unpasteurised raw eggs is the only version that needs a second thought.
how to have it safely
Any jarred or squeezy supermarket mayonnaise is fine. For homemade, use Lion-stamped eggs (UK) or pasteurised liquid egg, and keep it refrigerated.
worth knowing
- The same logic applies to shop-bought aioli, tartare sauce, salad cream and ranch — pasteurised and safe.
- Restaurant 'house-made aioli' may use raw egg — worth a quick question, or skip it outside the UK.
- UK: fresh mayo made with Lion eggs is officially fine; US: only pasteurised-egg versions.
- Mayonnaise in pre-made sandwiches and coleslaw is commercial and pasteurised — safe.
common questions
Can I eat coleslaw while pregnant?
Shop-bought coleslaw made with commercial mayonnaise is safe. Deli-counter or homemade coleslaw is fine too if the mayo is jarred or made with Lion/pasteurised eggs — and it's been kept properly chilled.
Is garlic aioli at a restaurant safe?
If it's made from a commercial base, yes. If it's genuinely house-made with raw egg, it's only low-risk in the UK with Lion eggs — when in doubt, ask or choose something else.
also in dairy & eggs
Aligned with guidance from the NHS, FDA and WHO. This is general information, not personal medical advice — check with your midwife or doctor about your own situation. How we write.