Food Safety in Pregnancy... Why is it so Confusing?!
I am often asked about food safety in pregnancy and I am the first to concede that it is an area full of confusion, and conflicting messages.
During pregnancy, your immune system is less effective and this means you are more likely to get sick from food. Listeria is the 'bug' we are most concerned about while you are pregnant. This is because listeria has been linked to miscarriage, preterm birth and the death of newborn infants.
If you are infected with listeria you may not have any symptoms or, if you do, your symptoms may be like the flu, which means you may not realise that you have listeria at all.
The main confusion people talk to me about relates to healthy eating in pregnancy, and particularly, what to eat when you are wanting to eat out. According to the guidelines, it is safe to eat a hot meat pie that you have purchased, but not a salad or a salad sandwich. This is confusing because it is the opposite of what we tell you to do with respect to healthy eating!
I wish that there was an easy answer I could provide regarding what is safe to eat when you want to eat out, but the reality is that the New Zealand food safety guidelines are very strict - I don't disagree with the guidelines at all; the impact of listeria can be devastating and is largely avoidable by not eating certain foods while you are pregnant.
Firstly, the most important factor is ensuring your stick to the basic principles of safe eating in pregnancy:
Food Safety in a Nutshell:
- Wash and dry hands thoroughly
- Clean, cook, cover and chill
- Avoid high risk foods
- Tell people who are preparing your food that you are pregnant
- Make sure food is well heated to above 70 degrees celsius
- Be mindful of 'best before' and 'use by' date: do not eat food that is past these dates
- If in doubt, do not eat it!
- When you eat out, avoid the same high-risk foods you would avoid at home
- Make sure any takeaway food is well cooked and prepared just before it is served to you
- Avoid eating food from buffets, smorgasbords, salad bars or street vendors, as risks are harder to manage.
Some Ideas:
These are ideas that myself and my colleagues have come up with. These are guidelines only - make sure that what you choose to eat sticks to the guidance in the list above.
The Bottom Line:
- If in doubt, don't eat it!
- Pregnancy only lasts for 9 months - but the impact of unsafe eating in pregnancy can last a lifetime.
If you have any questions, you are encouraged to talk to your midwife or doctor.
Useful Links:
The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries has a lot of information on their website: