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Foods to Avoid When Pregnant or Breastfeeding
Pregnancy

Foods to Avoid When Pregnant or Breastfeeding

2 min readWeek 1
Key takeaways
2 min
  • Avoid raw meat, fish, and sushi as they may contain Listeria monocytogenes bacteria that can cause miscarriage and serious complications.
  • Skip unpasteurized soft cheeses like brie, feta, and blue cheese which pose listeria infection risks to both mother and baby.
  • Limit high-mercury fish including tuna, shark, swordfish, and king mackerel as mercury can harm your baby's developing nervous system.
  • Cook all meat to at least 158°F (70°C) to prevent toxoplasmosis infection, especially pork, lamb, and venison.
  • Eliminate raw eggs and foods containing them like tiramisu and eggnog to avoid salmonella poisoning during pregnancy.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid raw meat and fish, unpasteurized soft cheeses, high-mercury fish like tuna, undercooked meat, and raw eggs. These foods may contain harmful bacteria or toxins that can cause miscarriage or developmental problems.

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Not all food is created equally — and it’s important to pay attention to what you eat during pregnancy. Here’s a list of products that it is better to avoid for now.

Raw meat and fish

Untreated food may contain the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, which in turn causes listeriosis, a disease that can cause miscarriage [1]. Therefore, tartare, carpaccio, ceviche, sushi and other dishes made from raw fish and meat are to be avoided. You should not eat raw meat and fish, as well as raw smoked sausage.

Unpasteurized cheeses and blue cheese

Avoid soft, unpasteurized cheeses [2] such as fresh mozzarella, brie, feta, camembert, blue blue cheese, and goat cheese. They, like raw fish, may contain Listeria monocytogenes. So it's better not to eat it for now.

Some types of sea food

Tuna [1] is a fish that lives for a very long time and accumulates a huge amount of toxins like mercury during its lifetime. For an adult, this is not dangerous. But for a baby, the influence of mercury can be harmful. For the same reasons, it is worth avoiding shark, swordfish, king mackerel and marlin from your diet.

Rare meats

When meat is not completely cooked, it can lead to toxoplasmosis [3]. Pork, lamb and venison are especially risky. Cook steaks until well done. To be sure of the degree of doneness, buy a meat thermometer. The temperature in the finished piece of steak should be at least 158 ℉ (70 ℃).

Raw eggs

You can find them even where you don't expect. Tiramisu, for example, would seem a harmless dessert, but not only is cognac an ingredient, but it also includes a raw beaten egg [4]. Raw eggs have the risk of carrying salmonella, which can have devastating effects on the baby’s development. So it’s definitely worth temporarily giving up tiramisu, eggnog and other dishes that contain raw eggs.

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Frequently asked questions

Avoid raw meat and fish, unpasteurized cheeses, high-mercury fish like tuna, undercooked meat, and raw eggs. These foods can contain harmful bacteria or toxins that may cause miscarriage or developmental problems.

No, you should avoid sushi and other raw fish during pregnancy. Raw fish may contain Listeria bacteria which can cause listeriosis, leading to miscarriage or serious complications.

Hard, pasteurized cheeses are safe during pregnancy. Avoid soft, unpasteurized cheeses like brie, feta, camembert, and blue cheese as they may contain harmful Listeria bacteria.

Tuna accumulates high levels of mercury over its long lifespan. While not dangerous for adults, mercury can harm your baby's developing nervous system and should be limited during pregnancy.

All meat should be cooked to at least 158°F (70°C) during pregnancy to prevent toxoplasmosis. Use a meat thermometer to ensure proper doneness, especially for pork, lamb, and venison.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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Reviewed by healthcare professionals · Updated June 1, 2025

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