Unfortunately, some of your favourite foods may be off the menu during your pregnancy as they can carry toxins or increase the risk of food poisoning. Find out which foods you should avoid as well as foods and drinks to be mindful of during your pregnancy.
What not to eat when you’re pregnant
Knowing which foods to avoid when you’re pregnant is just as important as getting the right balance of nutrients. Certain foods can carry an increased risk of food poisoning, while others contain toxins that are best avoided.
Foods to avoid when you’re pregnant
As well as being unpleasant for you, food poisoning can put your baby’s health at risk1. For this reason, it’s important to pay close attention to your diet when you’re pregnant, taking extra care with food preparation and avoiding foods associated with the risk of listeriosis – a type of food poisoning2.
Listeriosis is caused by listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium found naturally in the environment, and present in soil and water2. It can be found on products that may have been exposed to soil or water, from animals carrying the bacteria like meat and dairy products, as well as in processed foods like soft cheeses and cold cured cuts of meat2.
The following foods should be avoided during pregnancy1:
- Rare or undercooked meat – meat should be piping hot and well cooked through because of the potential risk of toxoplasmosis1. Find out more about eating meat during pregnancy.
- Raw shellfish such as oysters3 – Find out more about eating shellfish during pregnancy.
- Cured meat – like salami, chorizo, pepperoni or Parma ham, unless they’ve been cooked. Find out more about eating cured meat during pregnancy.
- Unpasteurised milk, yoghurt or cheese – including Brie, Camembert or veined blue cheeses. Find out more about eating dairy and cheese during pregnancy.
- Swordfish, marlin and shark – these contain mercury which, if consumed in high levels, can damage your baby’s developing nervous system3. Tuna also contains mercury, so limit your intake to four 140g (drained weight) cans or two fresh steaks (up to 170g each, raw weight) per week3. Read more about eating fish during pregnancy.
- Liver and liver products like pâté – these contain vitamin A, which may harm your baby if consumed in excessive amounts1. Read more about vitamin A in pregnancy.
