When I found out I was pregnant again, the first thing I did was to stop and take a look at my diet.
It’s not that I eat bad, I actually eat relatively healthy, but I do enjoy eating a variety of foods, some of which should be avoided during pregnancy.
Dangerous bacteria and parasites can lurk in improperly prepared, cooked, and stored food, and these bacteria and parasites can cross your placenta affecting your baby, even if you don’t feel the symptoms of the illness yourself.
Here are 6 foods to avoid during pregnancy, to protect you and your baby from dangerous bacteria and parasites.
Undercooked Meat
E. Coli, Salmonella and Tocoplasma may be present in a variety of undercooked meats, including fish.
Ground meats (beef, veal, lamb and pork) should all be cooked to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and ground poultry should be cooked to 165 degrees F.
Pork roasts and chops should be cooked until they reach 145 degrees F, whole poultry 180 degrees F, chicken breasts 170 degrees F, and fish 145 degrees F.
When checking the temperature of your meat, always use a food thermometer, because the color and texture of the meat is not always an accurate indicator.
Sushi
Just like the undercooked meats mentioned above, sushi made with raw fish may contain bacteria and parasites. If you find yourself craving sushi, opt for rolls made with cooked ingredients like a California roll.
Raw fish does not pose a high risk for your baby, but you can get ill from sushi that is not handled properly, and you’ll likely suffer from vomiting and dehydration, which can affect your baby.
Raw Oysters and other Shellfish
Stay away from all uncooked shellfish including clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops.
Shellfish should be cooked until the shell opens, ensuring that any bacteria or parasites have been killed. Toss all shellfish that does not open when cooking, as this means the shellfish was dead before cooking.
Foods that contain Raw Eggs
Pass on tasting raw cooking dough, raw cake batter, and certain salad dressings (like Caesar) that contain raw eggs. Raw Eggs may contain Salmonella and other bacteria that can be harmful to you and your baby.
Unpasteurized Soft Cheeses
Unpasteurized cheeses may contain Listeria, which is normally killed during the pasteurization process. Some soft cheeses to avoid include; Brie, Camembert, Goat Cheese, Feta and Roquefort.
Instead of consuming soft cheese, opt for hard cheeses like Cheddar and Swiss, or semi-soft cheeses like Monterey Jack and Mozzarella.
As a precaution for any cheese, always check the label and make sure it states ‘made with pasteurized milk’.
Raw Sprouts and Vegetables
Raw sprouts and alfalfa can contain E. Coli and Salmonella, so it’s best not to garnish your burger or salad with them. Make sure all raw vegetables, especially leafy vegetables like lettuce and cabbage, have been washed thoroughly before eating.
Use Caution When Eating Refrigerated Ready-To-Eat-Foods
Deli style salads and sandwiches can be contaminated with Listeria if not prepared and handled properly. Since these types of foods are not reheated, they can pose a risk to pregnant women, so you may want to avoid them all together. Lunch meats can be eaten if they are heated until they are steaming hot.
Also, don’t eat food that has been left unrefrigerated or unheated for longer than one hour.
Image from Flickr.
About Stacy Molter
