Are There Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy?
There are a number of foods to avoid during pregnancy. Below you will find some of the most common ones.
If you have any further questions please speak to your MD or a Registered Dietitian.
Certain fish have high levels of mercury and must therefore be eaten in moderation during pregnancy. Some of the higher mercury fish include tuna, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy and shark. Shellfish may contain bacteria that are dangerous to the mother and fetus and therefore raw or undercooked shellfish are to be avoided. These include oysters, prawn, mussels, shrimp and crab. Make sure to cook all seafood to a safe internal temperature of 74 C.
All unpasteurized dairy products should not be eaten during pregnancy due to the risk of listeriosis. Some examples include goat cheese, feta, camembert and brie.
Other foods that can contain listeria that are to be avoided during pregnancy include deli meats, hot dogs, meat pates as well as ready to eat salads like creamy coleslaws and potato salads.
Unpasteurized fruit and vegetables juices and raw sprouts have a higher risk of containing bacteria like e-coli and salmonella and should also be avoided during pregnancy.
Lastly, raw and undercooked eggs, meat and poultry can also contain bacteria that are harmful to mother and baby and should be avoided.
Make sure your eggs are firm and egg dishes, meat and poultry are cooked to safe internal temperatures.
Rebecca Bergel is a Registered Dietitian with over 12 years of experience in pediatric and adolescent nutrition. Practice areas include: infant feeding, failure to thrive, underweight/overweight, picky eating, GI issues, sports specific nutrition, behavioral issues around eating & food allergies.