Understanding Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy: A Plain-English Explainer

Pregnancy changes the immune system, making some foodborne infections more likely and more serious, and some substances such as alcohol and mercury can harm the baby's development.

Key takeaways

• Fish to eat: 8 to 12 oz (about 225 to 340 g) a week from lower-mercury choices
• Fish to skip: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, bigeye tuna and tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico
• Most useful single change: Choose lower-mercury fish such as salmon, shrimp, pollock, cod, canned light tuna and sardines.
• Commonest mistake: Raw or undercooked meat, fish, shellfish and eggs, including raw cookie dough.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

The short answer

Foods and drinks that carry a higher risk of infection, mercury or other harm to a developing baby.

Where it fits

This is part of Pregnancy. The rest of this page works through the figures and then the practical side.

The numbers, in one place

What that means in practice

The practical version:

• Choose lower-mercury fish such as salmon, shrimp, pollock, cod, canned light tuna and sardines
• Cook meat, poultry, seafood and eggs until fully done; use a food thermometer
• Check labels on soft cheeses such as queso fresco and brie for the word "pasteurized"
• Wash fruit and vegetables under running water before eating or cutting
• Count caffeine from coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks together

What gets people into trouble

Common wrong turns:

• Raw or undercooked meat, fish, shellfish and eggs, including raw cookie dough
• Unpasteurized (raw) milk and juice, and cheese made from them
• Refrigerated smoked seafood and refrigerated pâté unless cooked in a dish
• Raw sprouts such as alfalfa and mung bean

Related topics

• Listeria in Pregnancy: What Published Guidance Supports (Food Safety)
• Food and Water Safety Abroad: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Travel Health)
• Dog Bite Prevention: What Published Guidance Supports (Injury Prevention)
• The Evidence on Vegetarian and Vegan Diets, Without the Hype (Healthy Recipes)

Where to go next

• Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy: A Beginner-Friendly Start
• Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy: The Questions People Actually Ask
• Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy — the reference entry
• Pregnancy and Postpartum: The Complete Guide
• The Evidence on Pregnancy Weight Gain, Without the Hype
• Gestational Diabetes: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise

When to speak to a doctor

Call your prenatal care provider if you develop fever, chills, muscle aches, vomiting or diarrhea in pregnancy, especially after eating a high-risk food, since some infections need prompt treatment. Call 911 for severe dehydration with fainting, confusion, or a high fever with a stiff neck.

Where this comes from

• FDA — Advice About Eating Fish
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Nutrition During Pregnancy
• CDC — About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.