A dummies guide to food I can’t eat?

[Awkwardusername]

I’ve searched all over the internet and Google “can I eat _when pregnant” before every single meal, but there is so much conflicting information I just don’t know what I can/can’t have!

Even the NHS website is overwhelming me at the moment, so can anyone help with a quick overview?

Sorry if I’m being stupid! First pregnancy and I’m so worried about everything!

Congratulations!

Did you find this page?
www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/
It honestly couldn’t be put any clearer, at least not by me!

America has very different food standards, which is why you’re finding confusing conflicting info online, so I’d stay off Google and only refer to the link above.

The NHS website linked above is the key page but the general rule is mostly just to avoid things that could cause food poisoning which is why it is recommended to avoid soft cheese (if uncooked), seafood and rare meat etc. And also don’t have herbal tea with liquorice root in it.

Google “can I eat _when pregnant” before every single meal

Don't do this. You will find some website somewhere that will tell you every single food is off limits. The NHS website linked above is clear, and applies to UK food standards. Websites from other countries may not be relevant.

Just the NHS website linked above. Ignore all else.

Don't worry too much. If it smells funky check the NHS website first.

I think the only things on the don't eat list I didn't have while pregnant were shark and pate. The ladies in Japan still eat sushi and I am sure french ladies still eat stinky cheese. If it is something unusual that isn't on most people's shopping list maybe check at the time. Don't stress it. No cigarettes or whiskey 😉

I’m a vegetarian so it made my list a bit easier as a lot of the donts seem to be meat. I think on the whole the risk is listeria which is very very rare and if most things are cooked until they’re piping hot inside that kills any bacteria anyway. I was so cautious at the start but did end up eating the odd bit of goats cheese etc towards the end, I used to just ask them to cook it til it was really hot. You feel like there’s soo many rules at the start and everywhere you turn there’s another rule saying you can’t do that

Try Emily oster's book 'expecting better'

She explains the reasons behind why it's advised not to eat certain things and the level of risk (which is different for different not-advised foods), so you can make your own decisions.

Great book, do buy it, but if you’re UK based I would probably skip anything on food because Emily Oster is American and it’s very different over there. For example, lion stamp eggs, which all British supermarket ones are, mean the chicken is vaccinated from salmonella. There’s no such standard in the US. Meanwhile almost all cheese, even the stinky French ones, are pasteurised so they’re always ok to eat. So she’s not looking at the evidence relative to the UK.

Usually I’d agree it’s best to be informed, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed it’s probably more useful to just accept the advice not to eat unpasteurised cheese than read about the risks and how they’re calculated before deciding.

Agree, NHS website is best here.

Are there some specific foods you’re unsure about OP?

NHS guide and congratulations on your pregnancy 🌷

Basically most foods can be made safer by cooking e.g blue and mould ripened cheeses, cured meats like pepperoni, smoked fish, etc

Pate should be avoided due to high vitamin A
Limit tuna and oily fish and avoid shark, swordfish and marlin
Limit caffeine

I enjoyed Emily Oster’s book but it’s not one to read if you’re already feeling overwhelmed by too much information. Stick to the NHS site and ignore everything else.

Also don’t take a normal multivitamin - it must be a pregnancy multivitamin. Normal ones contain too much Vitamin A which can be harmful.

Not sure how the NHS website can be overwhelming you

There is a very small list of food you can't eat

I take the point about not wanting too much data if feeling overwhelmed but @GoAround I don't think it's a problem that she's American. She doesn't make assumptions about where the reader is located and gives you all the information you need.

I had my first pregnancy in the uk and my second in the USA so I am well aware of the differences.