Don’t eat these foods during pregnancy

Posted: 4/28/2016

Some foods are not safe to eat when you are pregnant because of germs or because of the way they are cooked. Some foods to stay away from include:

Some meats and fish

• Raw meat or meat that is not cooked all the way including beef, chicken and pork. 
• Raw fish, especially shellfish.
• Fish that can be high in mercury such as swordfish, shark and king mackerel. 
• Refrigerated meat spreads or smoked seafood. 
  

Some dairy

• Raw or lightly cooked eggs or foods with them, like cake batter and raw cookie dough. 
• Soft-scrambled eggs.
• Unpasteurized (not heated to kill bad germs) juice or milk.
• Unpasteurized soft cheeses, such as brie, feta, queso blanco and queso fresco.  

Other

• Raw sprouts, especially alfalfa sprouts.
• Herbal pills and teas. 
• Nonfood items like clay, starch or coffee grounds. Tell your doctor if you crave anything like this that is not food. 

If you have questions about your pregnancy or need to see a doctor, make an appointment at a Parkland clinic.