Is It Safe to Consume Mussels During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is the time when women have to exercise most caution while choosing what to eat. This is particularly the case for eating certain meats and seafood that carry a higher risk of parasitic infections and heavy metal concentration. Mussels are a delicacy in many coastal countries around the world.

As long as they are cleaned and cooked well, they are tasty, nutritious, and have low mercury content. If you wonder whether to continue eating mussels or add them to your diet during pregnancy, continue reading to find out all you need to know about mussels and pregnancy.

What Are Mussels? 

Mussels belong to a class of marine invertebrates called Bivalve mollusks that include other species such as oysters, clams, and scallops. These animals are called filter feeders, meaning they survive by filtering out and feeding on nutrients that flow through the water where they live. Since they have to filter through a large quantity of water to accumulate enough nutrients, they also end up collecting a larger amount of microorganisms in their tissues. Mollusks have been consumed for centuries by humans, and it is advisable to clean them thoroughly with hot water and soap to get rid of the bacteria and parasitic organisms that live in them. 

Nutritional Facts of Mussels

Mussels are highly nutritious as they contain a significant amount of micronutrients. The following table gives the nutrient profile of 100g of mussels. 

Source: https://www.nutritionadvance.com/mussels-nutrition-benefits/ 

Is It Safe to Consume Mussels During Pregnancy? 

One of the commonly asked questions is, “are mussels safe during pregnancy?” The answer is yes, as long as it is cleaned and cooked thoroughly. Since mussels are filter feeders, they accumulate large microbes, including the Echinococcus and Toxoplasma gondii species. The risk persists in both farmed and mussels caught in the wild.

The concern is primarily around the transmission and subsequent outbreak of protozoans such as Cryptosporidium, which can be harmful to others along with pregnant women. There is also a higher risk of accumulation of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in the mussels, which can cause a toxoplasmosis infection with serious outcomes for the fetus.

Safe cleaning and cooking practices need to be followed while preparing dishes out of mussels. They need to be washed with hot soapy water and cooked until the shells burst open. Open shells after cooking are a good sign of thoroughly cooked mussels. Pregnant women should never consume raw or undercooked mussels as there is a high risk of infection from organisms such as Vibrio vulnificus and the microbes, as mentioned above. Before you plan on including mussels in the diet, it is ideal to consult your doctor about the risk and benefits. 

When to Consume Mussels in Pregnancy?  

Mussels can be consumed at any point during the pregnancy. Most women are still experiencing nausea and vomiting during the first trimester. Therefore, if the smell of seafood triggers nausea, it is best avoided. Regardless of when the mussels are consumed during pregnancy, it is essential to clean and cook them thoroughly. Caution must be used when consuming mussels in a restaurant. 

Recommended Intake 

The cause for concern when it comes to seafood is the presence of mercury. While shellfishes have very low mercury content, it is ideal to limit consumption during pregnancy. The recommended intake is about two or three servings per week which are about 6 ounces of mussels. If you have other seafood and fish as part of your weekly diet, include mussels in the total seafood quota for the week. 

Health Benefits of Consuming Mussels While Pregnant 

Mussels are loaded with plenty of micronutrients that are essential for the body. Once you have the go-ahead from your doctor, you can include them in the diet. Here are some of the health benefits of eating mussels: 

• Mussels are a great source of lean protein that can meet a portion of the daily recommended requirement to help the development of the fetus. Protein is needed to build the body’s structures, such as the muscles, cells, and tissues. 
• Mussels are high in Iron which is needed for the body in greater quantities during pregnancy. The haem iron found in the meat is more readily absorbable and hence a high-quality source of the mineral. Iron is required to make red blood cells as the blood volume in pregnant women increases throughout pregnancy. 
• Mussels are also a good source of micronutrients such as zinc, calcium, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are critical for developing the fetus. 
• Mussels are delicious, so pregnant women who have seafood cravings can enjoy a tasty and nutritious meal.  

Potential Side Effects of Eating Mussels When Pregnant 

Mussels also have side effects, especially during pregnancy. Here are some of those: 

• The biggest concern with mussels has to do with foodborne pathogens. Since these organisms are filter feeders, they accumulate various different microbes and parasitic organisms that can infect humans. Toxoplasmosis is one of the high risks associated with mussels. This parasitic infection can cause serious complications in the developing fetus. Infection caused by the Vibrio Vulnificus bacterium is also of concern as they are commonly found in mussels. Eating raw mussels can cause food poisoning and diarrhea, which can be harmful during pregnancy. 
• Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) is a rarer risk that can cause illness when people consume shellfish contaminated with toxins. The symptoms can begin soon after consumption and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Complete recovery can take up to 3 days. 
• Raw or undercooked mussels can also harbor Hepatitis A. Jaundice caused by the organism can be transmitted from the mother to the baby, making it a risk. 
• Mussels are exposed to heavy metal contaminants in the ocean. While mercury, which is the substance pregnant women should be most wary of, is very low in mussels, it can still accumulate in the body with excess consumption.  

Ways to Safely Cook Mussels During Pregnancy

Consider these tips before you add mussels to your diet: 

• Always buy fresh mussels from reputed stores or outlets than going for unknown vendors or harvesting them yourself. You are more likely to be aware of the conditions in which the mussels were farmed if they are bought from a reputed store. Mussels that smell bad or fishy must be avoided. 
• Avoid purchasing imported mussels as there is no way to tell for sure about the conditions in which they were farmed or the place where they were harvested. Locally farmed mussels are the safest choice as it is possible to check for their standards. 
• Mussels that are safe for consumption will be closed. Even if the shells are open, they should close with a gentle tap. Avoid buying open mussels or ones with their shells broken. 
• Wear hand gloves to handle the shells and clean them thoroughly with hot soapy water before preparing them. Ensure that the containers containing the raw and washed mussels are kept far enough to avoid cross-contamination.
• The mussels must be cooked thoroughly to kill microbes or parasites for at least 5- 10 minutes using boiling water or steam. The cooked shells must open after the thorough cooking process. Any unopened shells need to be discarded. 
• Mussels that are steamed in white wine are also safer for pregnant women. The dish should also contain milk or cream that is pasteurized. 
• Deep-fried mussels are also safe as the high temperature of deep frying would kill the most harmful microbes. Large mussels need to be opened and checked for thorough cooking before being served. 
• Mussels baked without the shell are safer as they are more thoroughly cooked during the baking process. They also tend to be cleaner compared to their shelled counterparts. 
• Tinned or canned mussels are the safest as they are thoroughly sterilized as part of the canning process. They are also cooked in the tin, reducing the chances of contamination. Pickled mussels are also safer as they are cooked before being marinated. 

Mussels Recipes to Try During Pregnancy

There are dozens of recipes to cook delicious mussels. Here are our top picks:

1. Garlic Butter Mussels 

Simple to make and delicious mussels dish. 

Ingredients:

• Fresh mussels scrubbed and debarred- 3 pounds 
• Garlic butter- 10 tablespoons 
• Finely chopped shallots 3/4th cup 
• 6 garlic cloves- minced 
• Fresh chopped parsley – 4 tablespoons 
• Fresh lemon juice – 2 tablespoons 
• Freshly grated lemon peel – 1 tablespoon
• Water 

Total Cooking Time:  45 minutes

Servings: 2 servings

Method: 

1. Put the mussels into a heavy boiling Dutch oven that has a lid. Add enough water to completely submerge the mussels and place the oven on high heat until it starts boiling. Boil continuously on high heat for 5 to 10 minutes until the shells pop open while occasionally stirring the contents. Wait until most shells have opened and discard those that don’t 
2. Strain the mussels and store them in a bowl covered in tin foil. Do not discard the water the mussels were boiled in; save it for later use. 
3. Use the same boiling Dutch oven to heat the butter over a medium flame. Add the shallots into the molten butter and then the garlic and sauté the mixture for three to five minutes until it becomes tender. 
4. Next, add three teaspoons of parsley, lemon peel, and lemon juice. Pour the water, in which the mussels were boiled, back into the Dutch oven along with the mussels. 
5. Continue to boil the mixture on medium heat for ten to fifteen minutes until the taste is satisfactory. Add some of the freshly ground pepper and season with a tablespoon of parsley before serving. 

2. Steamed Mussels in Tomato Broth 

This simple and yet delicious mussels dish has a tangy twist of tomatoes.  

Ingredients:

• Extra virgin olive oil – 1 teaspoon 
• 4 cloves of garlic- finely chopped 
• 6 ripe plum tomatoes- coarsely chopped
• Water 
• Scrubbed and de-bearded mussels – 3 pounds
• Freshly chopped parsley- 2 teaspoons

Total Cooking Time: 45 minutes 

Servings: 2 servings 

Method: 

1. Place a Dutch pot over low heat and pour oil over it, and wait till the oil gets hot. The pot needs to have a tight-fitting lid to enable boiling and retaining the flavors. Add garlic to the oil and cook for about 3 minutes until it turns golden brown. 
2. Add the chopped tomatoes to the pot and turn up the heat to cook them for a while. Stir the tomato mix every minute or so to ensure even cooking. Add a little water and continue to boil. 
3. Add the freshly cleaned mussels to the tomato broth and cover the lid tightly. Allow the mussels to boil and steam in the tomato broth for 15 minutes or more until the shells open up. Stir at regular intervals to mix uniformly and spread the heating all around. Stop cooking once most, if not all, of the shells have opened. Discard the unopened mussels. 
4. Serve the mussels with the tomato broth with sprinkled parsley on top. 

Mussels are delicious seafood items that you can include in your weekly quota of seafood. They are an excellent source of lean proteins and are loaded with plenty of essential nutrients. It is important to thoroughly clean the mussels and cook well to ensure they are safe to consume.  

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