Foods to avoid
While you’re pregnant your immune system functions at a slightly lower level than normal, so you can be at risk from infections passed on through food. If you realize you’ve accidentally eaten anything namechecked here, don’t panic – the risks are small, but it is best to avoid these foods while pregnant.
Cheese
Some cheeses carry the risk of listeria, a bacteria that can cause serious problems for you and your baby. Avoid mold-ripened soft cheeses such Brie and Camembert, and blue-veined cheeses, such as Stilton (they can be eaten if they’ve been thoroughly cooked). You should also avoid cheese from unpasteurized sheep or goats’ milk. Hard cheeses and soft processed cheeses, such as cottage cheese, cream cheese and cheese spreads, are fine to eat.
Fish
Some types of fish can contain high levels of mercury, which may affect the development of your baby’s nervous system. Avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, marlin, grouper, orange roughy and tilefish; limit your consumption of saltwater bass, halibut and Maine lobster. While albacore tuna is high in mercury and should be avoided, it is safe to eat light tuna although you should limit it to one fresh steak or two cans a week. Fish with the lowest mercury levels include pollock, haddock, hake, salmon tilapia and sardines. Avoid sushi that contains raw fish, and raw or undercooked shellfish such as oysters, mussels, cold prawns and crab.
Milk
Milk can contain listeria or toxoplasmosis, a blood infection that can cause premature birth, low birthweight, jaundice and eye problems. Pasteurization kills the bacteria that causes listeria and toxoplasmosis, so avoid unpasteurized milk of any kind. Ice cream can also cause listeria, so avoid homemade ice cream or soft-whipped ice cream from machines. You can eat ice cream from cartons.
Eggs
These can contain salmonella, so avoid undercooked or raw eggs – this includes homemade mayonnaise made with raw egg (store-bought is fine, but restaurants often make homemade mayonnaise with raw egg, so always ask first), and mousses made with raw egg. You can eat well-cooked eggs (hard-boiled).
Meat
Meat can cause toxoplasmosis, listeria and salmonella if it hasn’t been cooked properly. Avoid raw or undercooked meat (eat your steaks well done for the next nine months and avoid smoked and deli meats) and ready-cooked poultry unless it has been thoroughly reheated. You can eat meat and poultry that has been cooked thoroughly all the way through.
Liver contains high-levels of the retinol form of vitamin A, which can be harmful to your developing baby, so steer clear of it. Some fish oil supplements can contain liver of fish, so check the ingredients first.
Salads
These can carry listeria or toxoplasmosis if they haven’t been washed properly. Avoid packaged salads unless you wash them first.
Cook-chill foods
Convenience foods can carry the risk of listeria, so avoid them unless heated until piping hot.
Peanuts
If you or your partner has a peanut allergy or any other allergy such as eczema or asthma, or a family history of these, avoid eating peanuts or peanut products (for example, peanut butter and some Chinese dishes, such as Satay chicken). You should also be cautious of store-bought cupcakes, cakes and muffins, since these may have been prepared alongside cakes containing peanuts even if they don’t include them as an ingredient. Any other type of nuts is fine.
Caffeine
This has been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. Try to limit your caffeine consumption to 300mg a day max – that’s roughly three cups of standard coffee, six cups of tea or eight cans of cola. Bear in mind too that many energy drinks contain caffeine, and that it’s in chocolate too.
Peanuts
If you or your partner has a peanut allergy or any other allergies, such as asthma, eczema or hay fever, or a family history of these, avoid eating peanuts or peanut products (for example, peanut butter and some Chinese dishes, such as Satay chicken). You should also be cautious of store-bought cupcakes, cakes and muffins, since these may have been prepared alongside cakes containing peanuts even if they don’t include them as an ingredient. Any other type of nuts is fine.
Caffeine
This has been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. Try to limit your caffeine consumption to 300mg a day max – that’s roughly three cups of standard coffee, six cups of tea or eight cans of cola. Bear in mind too that many energy drinks contain caffeine, and that it’s in chocolate too.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.