The NHS has very clear guidelines regarding which foods should be avoided during pregnancy. These guidelines are in place as certain foods are more likely to cause food poisoning which could potentially harm your baby.
RAW OR UNDERCOOKED MEAT carries a potential risk of toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite. It can also be found in soil, untreated water and cat faeces. This can be highly dangerous to your unborn baby, though cases are rare. Cook your meat thoroughly and ensure that no traces of blood or pinkness are present, especially in pork, chicken, sausages, red meat and burgers.
PÂTÉS, including those made with liver, meat, fish and vegetables, are not considered safe as they may carry listeria bacteria, which causes food poisoning.
LIVER contains high levels of vitamin A, excessive amounts of which may be harmful to your unborn baby.
CURED MEATS such as salami, chorizo and Parma ham have not been cooked and therefore could contain the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. If eaten on a pizza or in a stew which has been heated above 80°C (175°F), however, they are considered safe.
SWORDFISH, SHARK AND MARLIN should be avoided due to their high mercury content, and tuna should be eaten in moderation. Try not to exceed 280g fresh tuna or 560g drained tinned tuna per week.
SHELLFISH such as crab, lobster, prawns, mussels, clams and scallops are all considered safe if very fresh and thoroughly cooked. Raw shellfish can contain bacteria, which may cause food poisoning.
CHEESE is a good source of calcium but you do need to be a bit careful what cheeses you eat when pregnant. Soft mould-ripened cheeses, such as soft cheese with a white rind (e.g. Brie, Camembert and chèvre) and soft blue-veined cheese (e.g. Roquefort, Danish blue and Gorgonzola) provide a favourable environment for bacteria (such as listeria) to grow. However, they are considered safe if cooked thoroughly. Soft unpasteurised cheeses should be avoided for similar reasons. Make sure any soft cheeses (such as mozzarella, feta and cottage cheese), which aren’t mould-ripened, are pasteurised and they are considered safe to eat both uncooked or cooked. Most hard cheeses, even if they are unpasteurised, are considered safe to eat cooked or uncooked, as they don’t have the moist environment for bacteria to grow in like soft cheeses do. If you are unsure, the NHS website lists many common cheeses that are considered safe and unsafe to eat when pregnant.
UNPASTEURISED MILK AND YOGURT contain bacteria and should not be eaten or drunk during pregnancy.
RAW OR PARTIALLY COOKED EGGS may contain salmonella. Although this is unlikely to cause harm to your baby it can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in the mother, which can lead to dehydration and require medical attention.
FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS and other supplements high in vitamin A, which may be harmful to your unborn baby.
ALL FOODS GROWN IN THE SOIL should be washed thoroughly to remove any harmful bacteria.
NUTS: if you have nut allergies or if allergies run in the family, the NHS advises not eating nuts while pregnant. If not, eating nuts is encouraged to build up your baby’s tolerance.
HERBAL AND GREEN TEAS: the Food Standards Agency advises drinking no more than two cups per day during pregnancy. Many herbal teas, and especially green teas, contain caffeine which isn’t recommended while pregnant. We know very little about the true effects of drinking herbal teas while pregnant so it is best to err on the side of caution. Try fresh mint tea or fresh ginger-infused water instead.