Food can have factual evidence to back them up. Others are due more to rumour and old wives’ tales. In reality there are not many food groups that should be avoided entirely during pregnancy…
Find out what your diet should exclude while you’re expecting a baby…
There are a great many myths surrounding the types of foods that should be avoided during pregnancy, some of which have factual evidence to back them up. Others are due more to rumour and old wives’ tales. In reality there are not many food groups that should be avoided entirely during pregnancy, it is generally a case of being careful with food preparation rather than avoidance. Make sure that the food preparation area is clean, and that your hands are washed before coming into contact with food. Be sure that food is kept cold enough while it is in the fridge or freezer, and that it is fully heated before eating. It is also a good idea to keep pets and young children out of the kitchen, partly as they can break concentration and cause mistakes to be made, and partly because animals can harbour bacteria that are only dangerous if they are consumed on food. It is also important to keep an eye on the freshness of food, and the use/eat by dates. Food that is only slightly out of date may present health risks to anyone eating them, and this is not safe during pregnancy.
Food
Cheeses: Avoid soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert, and blue veined cheeses such as Roquefort and Stilton. Also to be avoided are unpasteurised soft cheeses made of goat’s or sheep’s milk. All of theses cheeses may carry listeria, a bacteria that can make you feel, or become sick. More seriously it can also cause miscarriage, stillbirth or illness in the unborn child. Hard cheeses are safe, however, including Cheddar, any hard smoked cheeses, Feta, Parmesan and Mozzarella (making most pizzas safe). Cottage cheese is safe, as are Philadelphia and Boursin, which have the texture of a soft cheese and may be good substitutes for the more dangerous products.
Eggs: Raw or undercooked eggs should be avoided as they may contain salmonella. Freshly made mayonnaise containing raw egg should also be avoided. Soft
