During Pregnancy
During Pregnancy – Checklist of Foods to Avoid
Pregnancy affects your immune system and as such your baby and you are more susceptible to viruses, bacteria and parasites that may cause foodborne illnesses. Many bugs such as Toxoplasma and Listeria may affect your baby and lead to serious health issues. Your baby can be sensitive to certain toxins in the food that you eat such as mercury in certain types of fish.
Keep this checklist handy to help ensure that you and your unborn baby stay safe and healthy. It is also a good idea to invest in a food thermometer to safeguard the temperature of cooked food.
Foods to Avoid Eating During Pregnancy
Soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk, including feta, Camembert, Roquefort, Brie, queso blanco and queso fresco. May contain E. coli or Listeria. Replace with hard cheeses such as Swiss or cheddar. Check the label of all cheeses and ensure they are made from milk that has been pasteurized.
Raw Cake Batter or Cookie Dough. May contain Salmonella. Do not lick the spoon and bake the cake and cookies.
Certain types of fish such as tilefish (white snapper or golden), shark, swordfish and king mackerel. Contains high levels of mercury. Replace with fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury such as shrimp, pollock, catfish and salmon. Limit quantities of these types of fish to no more that 12 ounces per week.
Raw or undercooked fish such as sushi. May contain bacteria or parasites. Cook fish to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Unpasteurized juice or cider (including freshly squeezed). May contain E. coli. Drink only pasteurized juice. Boil unpasteurized juice for a minimum of one minute prior to drinking.
Unpasteurized milk. May contain bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria and Campylobacter. Drink only pasteurized milk.
Store made salads such as ham, seafood and chicken salad. May contain Listeria. Prepare your salads from home following food and safety guidelines.
Raw shellfish such as clams and oysters. May contain Vibrio bacteria. Ensure to cook all shellfish to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Undercooked or raw sprouts such as mung bean, radish and alfalfa. May contain E. coli or Salmonella. Thoroughly cook all sprouts.
Foods to Be Careful Of During Pregnancy
Luncheon meats, cold cuts, hot dogs, fermented or dry sausage and other deli-style poultries and meats. May contain Listeria. Reheat these meats to 165 degrees Fahrenheit before eating (even if label states meat is precooked).
Eggs and pasteurized egg products. May contain Salmonella if undercooked. Cook all eggs until yolks are fully firm. Cook all dishes and casseroles, which contain eggs or egg products to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Eggnog. May contain uncooked eggs, which therefore may contain Salmonella. Make eggnog from a pasteurized egg product or buy only pasteurized eggnog. Cook all egg containing beverages to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fish may contain bacteria or parasites. Cook all fish to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ice cream. May contain uncooked eggs, which may contain Salmonella. Eat ice cream made with a pasteurized egg product. Add eggs to amount of liquid required in the recipe and heat mixture thoroughly to make ice cream safer.
Beef, veal, pork and lamb. May contain E. coli if undercooked. Cook all beef, veal and lamb to 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook pork to 160 degrees Fahrenheit Cook all ground meats to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pate or meat spread. Unpasteurized refrigerated meat spread or pate may contain Listeria. Eat safe canned versions.
Poultry and stuffing. May contain Campylobacter or Salmonella bacteria if undercooked. Cook all poultry and stuffing to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Smoked seafood. Not safe unless cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Eat safe canned versions or cook to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
During Pregnancy | Toronto Baby Photos
