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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Avoid canned foods (especially tomato soup) in pregnancy

30 replies

Scremeegg · 22/10/2017 09:42

By chance, I've just come across loads of sources saying that canned foods should be avoided, particularly in pregnancy, due to the BPA coating inside tins. It's especially the case with foods like tomato soups which seem more likely to leach the chemical.

I knew about plastics but can't believe I'd not heard anything anywhere about tins. NHS says nothing.

I started this pregnancy with a balanced attitude that I'd avoid major food risks i.e. toxoplasmosis in rare meat, liver because of vitamin A etc and follow guidelines but be sensible and use moderation, and not get carried away.

But finding there might be something wrong with our baby though I've been kicking myself for not being even more careful.

Everytime I find something that I think is a good pregnancy choice (currently enjoying soups with whole meal bread) I suddenly find it's widely contraindicated (by large scale studies - not just scaremongering nonsense)

I feel like I am in some sort of Final Destination scenario where everyone I correct one environmental factor that might affect our baby, life finds another one!

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PurpleDaisies · 22/10/2017 09:44

NHS says nothing.

That tells you that there's not a serious risk.

What are these sources you're talking about? There's a lot of utter crap out there on the internet. Google is not your friend here.

OP posts:
kittensinmydinner1 · 22/10/2017 09:58

Could you please repost links. None of those work.

NerrSnerr · 22/10/2017 09:58

Step away from Google and go by the NHS advice. If you look hard enough on the internet you’ll find articles on how wearing red clothes, or living in detached houses are harmful in pregnancies- people write all sorts.

The NHS do the research, if there are claims something is harmful they will review the evidence base and do further studies if necessary.

elevenclips · 22/10/2017 10:00

I remember stuff like this when I was pregnant. Cans are ok if not dented. Also some cans are lined differently (with white lining). A normal can of undented soup will be fine.

kittensinmydinner1 · 22/10/2017 10:00

Well said. This couldn’t be more true. Look hard enough and there will be a research paper on the hazards to expectant mothers from eating Broccoli on a Tuesday.....

Original poster
Scremeegg · 22/10/2017 10:02

They all work for me - but if you search BPA and health I expect several links will come up. It's no longer used for baby bottles.

You could search BPA pregnancy study, or BPA autism link.

The Independent ran a series on it. I suspect claims are overstated and of course there won't be direct human research on pregnancies on ethical grounds - but if it increases risk it's another think to be mindful of

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Original poster
Scremeegg · 22/10/2017 10:07

Although you all may be right which is reassuring

I'm all for having a sensible balanced view and everything in moderation - but then a doctor has looked me in the eye and said that eating ham could have caused a birth defect in our baby

Most people on here would say "ham?! What tosh! Whatever next?"

OP posts:
OuchLegoHurts · 22/10/2017 10:08

I think moderation is the key here. If the odd tin of food harmed unborn babies the rate of healthy babies born would be tiny! Just eat a wide balanced diet and avoid existing only on one type of food, ie tins, and you should be fine. Is this your first baby? Just look at all the other healthy pregnancies that women have had, including myself, where we didn't avoid tinned food.

PurpleDaisies · 22/10/2017 10:09

I'm all for having a sensible balanced view and everything in moderation - but then a doctor has looked me in the eye and said that eating ham could have caused a birth defect in our baby

How did they reach that conclusion? Was this during a medical appointment or was it someone you know socially?

Original poster
Scremeegg · 22/10/2017 10:11

possible birth defect caused by acute toxoplasmosis infection

OP posts:
AssassinatedBeauty · 22/10/2017 10:11

@Scremeegg the NHS site talks about the risk of cold cured meats, so I think a lot of women would be aware of the issues around certain types of ham.

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 22/10/2017 10:14

From your post it sounds as though you have gone from having a very balanced attitude to being highly anxious and you mention that there might be something wrong with your baby and that you are kicking yourself.

I obviously don't know anything about you or your pregnancy but I suspect it is highly, highly unlikely that you have caused whatever may be wrong with your baby.

Just think for a moment about the vast, vast majority of babies who are born perfectly healthy and the numbers of mothers who eat e.g. canned foods while pregnant.

Even the things that the NHS do warn against include pretty remote risks (e.g. number of babies born with congenital toxoplasmosis 1:10,000) and as pp have said if you look online you will find 'evidence' of all sorts of alleged risks.

It sounds as though research may be feeding anxiety for you at the moment and it might be an idea to give yourself a break from it.

OuchLegoHurts · 22/10/2017 10:15

I think, for your own sake, you need to focus on the fact that you didn't do anything that any other pregnant woman wouldn't have done. I'm pregnant and I'm eating lots of ham and having a tin of beans from time to time. You didn't engage in risky behaviour so who knows why these things happen?

RJnomore1 · 22/10/2017 10:16

Eating uncooked ham can possibly be a cause of food poisoning which is why it should be avoided in pregnancy, it doesn't cause birth defects.

Likewise tinned food, it's best for everyone to avoid tinned tomatoes if you can get carton ones but tins are not a pregnancy risk.

Op you are being utterly irrational.

PurpleDaisies · 22/10/2017 10:16

If it was a raw ham like Parma ham, the NHS advises that there's a risk of toxoplasmosis.

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/917.aspx?CategoryID=54&SubCategoryID=130

GlitterGlassEye · 22/10/2017 10:16

Shock. What is supposedly wrong with ham?

TerrifyingFeistyCupcake · 22/10/2017 10:16

possible birth defect caused by acute toxoplasmosis infection
That is a known, but rare and very unlikely risk, and is featured in NHS advice. Many people are immune to toxoplasmosis anyway.

This canned food stuff is bollocks. There is "evidence" or "potential evidence" out there of all kinds of rubbish being harmful. If there is anything approaching a real evidence base, the NHS reflects it. One of the benefits of the NHS is that it's very good at producing balanced assessments of scientific information for people, and as a national health body it doesn't have a commercial agenda.

Original poster
Scremeegg · 22/10/2017 10:16

Sorry and yes medical appointment

This thread has reassured me a little. But I think it's fair to say it is frustrating that there are so many risks in pregnancy, and equally frustrating that there's a tendency on here to say - "oh nonsense, I ate ham/salad/whatever all through my pregnancy and my baby was fine" - which dismisses that there is a risk to weigh up.

NHS advice, btw, can and does change.

OP posts:
RJnomore1 · 22/10/2017 10:17

Here's the NHS analysis of the study:

www.nhs.uk/news/food-and-diet/risk-from-chemical-in-canned-soup-overstated/

Original poster
Scremeegg · 22/10/2017 10:22

I agree with posters who have said that the odd tinned soup here and there won't hurt. I think it's a shame though, that it's another thing to watch intake of. That's my concern.

The fact that one of the posts above is completely misinformed about ham proves my point. Toxoplasmosis in early pregnancy is unlikely to be caught by babies but if it is sadly it has enormous implications. Not as many people are immune as people think. In my case the likely cause was one off eating of ham - very unlikely and unlucky yes, but does that make it right to ridicule that there is a risk to weigh up?

BPA is banned from baby items in the EU.

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TerrifyingFeistyCupcake · 22/10/2017 10:23

NHS advice, btw, can and does change.

When new evidence comes to light. Unless and until it does, it is the most accurate assessment we have.

Even many of the risks advised about are extremely small, and it's a perfectly reasonable decision that the negative effects of obsessing over your diet outweigh the benefits of avoiding small and obscure risks.

PurpleDaisies · 22/10/2017 10:26

In my case the likely cause was one off eating of ham - very unlikely and unlucky yes, but does that make it right to ridicule that there is a risk to weigh up?

screme if someone had told you that a birth defect can be attributed to your eating raw ham once, they're incredibly irresponsible. Most birth defects happen for totally unknown reasons. Toxoplasmosis can be caught from all sorts of places. I'm very surprised that a doctor would make a statement in the way you've described.

RJnomore1 · 22/10/2017 10:26

No one is ridiculing and you have obviously had a bad experience. But you need to think realistically of how many pregnant women eat soup or ham and how much damage is caused. There is a far greater risk to your baby every time you get in a car for example.

MeatAndPotato · 22/10/2017 10:28

I ate everything that is mentioned on this thread when I was pregnant, including parma ham, and was told by my midwife that the majority of women do, with no ill effects to them or baby.

Toxoplasmosis is rare and most people are immune as far as I’m aware, and even if they are not immune it does not cause birth defects.

OP I know, especially with your first pregnancy, it can be overwhelming and filled with anxiety, but don’t doubt NHS advice, they are unbiased. If tinned foods were a danger to unborn babies and pregnant mothers, it would be common knowledge. Try to chill out.