Skip to main content
SafeMama

Disclaimer: This guide is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always confirm medicine, supplement and product decisions with your obstetrician, midwife, pharmacist or healthcare provider.

Food & Drink

Is Mayonnaise Safe During Pregnancy?

Published 2026-07-21 | By SafeMama Editorial Team | Editorial policy

Is Mayonnaise Safe During Pregnancy? pregnancy safety guide image

Short answer

Commercial mayonnaise is usually made with pasteurized eggs and can fit pregnancy food safety when kept refrigerated and used before the date. Homemade or restaurant mayo needs more checking because raw egg can be the issue.

Commercial pasteurized is the safer choice

What is the safest way to think about this?

FDA food-safety guidance says commercial mayonnaise, dressings, and sauces contain pasteurized eggs, while FDA and CDC pregnancy food-safety resources caution against raw or undercooked eggs and unsafe refrigeration.

What is generally okay?

  • Choose commercial mayonnaise, dressing, or sauce made with pasteurized eggs.
  • Keep opened jars refrigerated, use clean utensils, and follow the use-by date.
  • Ask restaurants or delis whether sauces, aioli, and dressings are made with pasteurized eggs.

What should you avoid or double-check?

  • Avoid homemade mayonnaise, aioli, hollandaise, Caesar dressing, mousse, tiramisu, eggnog, or raw batter unless pasteurized eggs are used or the food is cooked appropriately.
  • Avoid unrefrigerated deli salads, buffet trays, or shared condiments with unclear handling.
  • Avoid cracked, dirty, or raw shell eggs from unknown sources.

How SafeMama helps

SafeMama can flag mayonnaise, aioli, raw egg, pasteurized egg wording, deli salad labels, refrigeration instructions, and food-safety cautions on prepared foods.

Open the SafeMama app, scan the barcode or search the ingredient, then use the result as a starting point for a conversation with your healthcare provider.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Is restaurant aioli safe while pregnant?

Ask whether it is made with pasteurized eggs and how it is refrigerated. If staff cannot confirm, choose another sauce.

Is jarred mayonnaise safe?

Commercial jarred mayonnaise is usually pasteurized, but keep it refrigerated after opening and follow the label.

What if I ate homemade mayo?

Do not panic. Call your clinician if you develop fever, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, or are worried about a high-risk exposure.

Check products faster with SafeMama

SafeMama scans food, skincare, medicine and supplement labels and explains pregnancy-safety flags using published guidance from authorities like ACOG, NHS, FDA, CDC and WHO.

Download SafeMama