Pregnant Women – Food DON’Ts

There are 3 main dangers lurking in the food pregnant women eat. These things can cause serious illness or even death to you or your unborn baby.

They are:

• Listeria – a dangerous bacterium that can grow even in cold refrigerators.
• Mercury – a harmful metal found in high levels in some fish.
• Toxoplasma – a risky parasite found in undercooked meat and unwashed fruits and vegetables.

Food facts to help keep you and your baby healthy:

• DON’T eat raw or undercooked meat, poultry, fish or shellfish (sushi or sashimi).
• DON’T eat swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, and shark.
• DON’T eat refrigerated smoked seafood like whitefish, salmon, and mackerel. These are usually labeled nova-style, lox, kippered, smoked, or jerky.
• DON’T eat refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads.
• DON’T eat hot dogs and luncheon meats — unless they’re reheated until steaming hot.
• DON’T eat soft cheeses like feta, brie, camembert, “blue-veined cheeses,” “queso blanco,” “queso fresco,” and Panela unless the label says they are pasteurized or made from pasteurized milk.
• DON’T drink raw or unpasteurized milk or juice or eat foods that contain unpasteurized milk.
• DON’T eat unwashed fruits and vegetables.
• DON’T eat raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean).

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

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