Foods to avoid during pregnancy

Do you know which foods to avoid in pregnancy, or the reasons why you are advised to avoid them? This article is worth a read to avoid any unnecessary complications in your pregnancy.

You should avoid eating soft blue-veined cheese and soft cheeses with a white rind, such as brie and camembert or goat cheeses in pregnancy. This is because they may contain harmful bacteria, such as Listeria, which can cause listeriosis.

Listeriosis is a very rare condition, but even a mild form of the disease is dangerous for pregnant women as it can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth. Read more here.

These types of cheese are safe to eat when cooked until piping hot.

Cold cured meats, such as salami, pepperoni, proscuitto and chorizo are not recommended for pregnant women because these products are cured rather than cooked and there is a risk of toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis, although very rare, can cause pregnant women to have a miscarriage or still birth, or the infection could spread to the baby and cause serious complications (congenital toxoplasmosis). There are other risk factors for taxoplasmosis pregnant women need to be aware of, such as handling cat litter. Read more here.

The risk can be reduced by freezing cured meats for a minimum of four days before you eat them - or cooking them thoroughly. Packaged meat, such as cooked ham or corned beef, is safe to eat as it has been cooked.

Pregnant women are advised to avoid the following types of fish during pregnancy, as they contain high levels of mercury which can negatively affect your baby's developing nervous system:

• Marlin
• Raw shellfish
• Shark
• Swordfish

Read more about foods to restrict and safe foods in pregnancy.

Liver is very rich in vitamin A (retinol) which can have adverse effects on your baby's growth if consumed in excessive amounts.

See Foundations of a healthy diet for you and baby: Micronutrients for more information about vitamin A.

All pâté, even vegetable pâté, is a potential source of Listeria, which can cause listeriosis and should therefore be avoided in pregnancy due to the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.

Undercooked meat is a potential source of the parasite Toxoplasma Gondi, which can cause toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis, although very rare, can cause pregnant women to have a miscarriage or still birth, or the infection could spread to the baby and cause serious complications (congenital toxoplasmosis). All meat should be cooked so that there is no trace of blood when you cut it.

All foods containing undercooked eggs such as homemade mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce, meringues, ice creams etc. should be avoided as there is a very small risk of salmonella poisoning.

It is actually safe to eat raw fish, and sushi dishes as long you know that the fish has been frozen first. Freezing the fish makes sure any unwanted bacteria has been killed and will not harm you or your baby. Always ask your waiter or check the label if you are buying it in a supermarket. If you are unsure, it is best to leave it.

Avoid smoked or cold cured fish, such as smoked salmon or mackerel unless you know the fish has been frozen first - or you plan to cook it thoroughly.

Milk you buy in the shops in the UK will be pasteurised, so you do not need to worry. However, it is not safe for pregnant women to drink unpasteurised milk - unless it is boiled first.

There is no known safe volume of alcohol for pregnancy, which is why the NHS recommends not drinking during your pregnancy.

There is evidence that links alcohol consumption during pregnancy to an increased risk of: 

• Miscarriage, particularly in the first trimester
• Preterm birth
• Stillbirth
• Low birth weight
• Fetal alcohol syndrome
• Other health problems for the baby, including growth and development issues.

Large amounts of vitamin A (retinol) in pregnancy can harm your baby. Therefore, high dose multivitamin supplements, fish liver oil or any supplements containing vitamin A should be avoided in pregnancy. 

Information provided by specialist nutritional therapist: Rosie Letts Nutrition.

The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this article are not intended to amount to advice, and you should not rely on any of the contents of this article. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this article. New Life Classes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this article.