5 important tips about food safety during pregnancy

Our Southlake obgyns want you to know about food safety during pregnancy. You may not be aware that you are more susceptible during pregnancy to foodborne illnesses caused by parasites, bacteria and viruses. If you contract a foodborne illness while you’re pregnant, it can lead to complications for both you and your baby, so it’s important for you to learn all you can about food safety.

Food safety during pregnancy begins with these five steps

1. 1. Know which fish are safe to eat

   The FDA and EPA have issued specific advice about food safety during pregnancy. They recommend that women eat two to three servings of fish per week from their “best choices” list. These fish include cod, salmon and whitefish. If you want to eat fish on their “good choices” list, limit consumption to once a week. These choices include albacore tuna, snapper and halibut. Due to high mercury levels, women should avoid king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, tile fish and bigeye tuna.

   For more information about eating fish while pregnant, go to:

   https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/09/2019-14524/advice-about-eating-fish-for-women-who-are-or-might-become-pregnant-breastfeeding-mothers-and-young

   For more information about minimum safe internal temperatures for meat, go to:
   https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/safe-minimum-internal-temperature-chart

2. 2. Don’t drink unpasteurized milk, juice or cider

   You should never drink unpasteurized juice or cider because they have been linked to E. coli infections. Unpasteurized milk contains several dangerous bacteria, including listeria and salmonella.

3. 3. Don’t eat raw or undercooked eggs

   Eggs must be cooked until the yolks are firm, and egg dishes should be cooked to a minimum temperature of 160° F. In addition, avoid eating or drinking anything that may contain raw eggs such as eggnog or raw cookie dough.

4. 4. Be certain that your meat, poultry and seafood are cooked thoroughly

   You should ensure that any meat, poultry and seafood you eat is cooked to the proper minimum internal temperature to avoid dangerous contamination from E. coli, salmonella and toxoplasma gondii.

5. 5. Don’t consume raw sprouts of any kind

   The only safe way to eat sprouts during pregnancy is thoroughly cooked. This includes clover, radish, mung bean and alfalfa sprouts.

If you are looking for advice about food safety during pregnancy, our Southlake obgyns, right here in Grapevine, are happy to work with you. We provide expert, compassionate prenatal care. Contact us for an appointment.

Obstetrics Women's Integrated Healthcare