How strict are you with washing salad, raw fruit etc? etc?

[Caipulli]

Hi
I am about six weeks pregnant after years of infertility and losses (molar pregnancy, miscarriage, chemical pregnancies and one TFMR) and am pretty anxious.

i would like to know how strict people are about eating raw salads and fruit in restaurants or prepared by friends/family etc

i wash everything very carefully at home, only buy organic fruit and veg, sometimes I pour boiling water over veg that I will eat raw (eg carrots) or wash and peel, but obviously when eating out you have no idea if anything has been washed at all.
So I know it’s probably best to avoid raw salads etc in this case but also I don’t want to just eat fried food!

Our TFMR was due to brain abnormalities which may have been due to a food borne bacteria like listeria (it’s not possible to know for sure) so I am probably more anxious than most but I’d like to know if other women avoid eating any salads, garnishes etc that they haven’t prepared themselves.. how do you navigate this? Am I overreacting?

Also do you have special techniques for washing/prepping salad etc at home?

thanks

I know some will say this is paranoid but I can't trust salad from a restaurant or sandwich shops etc. So basically I don't eat any raw salad when out, if I do get a sandwich (rarely) it will definitely not have any rocket/lettuce in it as both can be culprit for listeria...

At home I just wash thoroughly and ensure no traces of soil are left.. at first I was soaking fruit in a vinegar or baking soda/ water solution but I dropped this as it's so time consuming. I also don't eat any bagged salad as it also has a higher listeria risk.

My view is you can't be too careful and only do what makes you comfortable. If eating salad when out makes you feel uncomfortable then just don't do it. When we eat at a restaurant I'll just order dishes that require a lot of cooking.

I think if you want to avoid salad prepped outside the home whilst pregnant, that's ok and pretty easy.

At home you can wash it thoroughly.

I have two children, had two miscarriages last year and I'm 18 weeks pregnant....I've not washed anything yet, maybe I should start giving it a rinse 🙃

I’m 9 weeks with baby 2, I won’t eat any salad/uncooked fruit/veg that I haven’t prepped myself. If I’m eating out I just avoid salads or leave salad garnishes etc. I did the same with my first too. It’s just sensible as of course you have no clue if the salad has been washed. At home I just run fruit/salad under cold water x

It's not something that's ever occurred to me to do, to be honest - I'll wash off visible dirt, give a rinse if needed etc., but otherwise I crack on, and am happy eating salads out and about. But I also don't have your history, and it's totally understandable that you'd worry, especially given the uncertainty around your TFMR. If skipping salads out of the house for a few months isn't going to cause you undue hardship, and will help you feel less anxious, then there's no harm at all in it.

Its best to do any things to reduce stress and worry for yourself personally during pregnancy so I would avoid eating raw fruit and salad when you’re out and washing thoroughly at home if that’s something that worries you.
Look after yourself, wishing you well in this pregnancy.

I avoided all salad outside of the home in both pregnancies, though I did eat bagged salad in my second pregnancy. I’d definitely avoid any supermarket sandwiches with lettuce or greenery in them as they’ve been linked to listeria recently. I still avoid now although not pregnant! As previous posters said, take whatever precautions you need to feel safe.it is only a few months. And best of luck with your pregnancy xx

Don't recall ever washing salad or fruit particularly. Pregnant or not life is too short and have have bigger fish to fry!

Bit of a splash of water at home, never gave it any thought out and about.

How strict am I? Not at all.

It'll get a very quick splash of water at home, if that (can't stand soggy lettuce) but don't even think of it when I'm eating out.

Fruit might get a rub on my clothing.

I am fairly laid back with these things in life in general but agree with ppl, if this is something that's going to cause you more stress, just avoid eating things you didn't prepare yourself.

People are really casual about washing fruit and veg anyway. I hate going to some kind of shared meal thing when people turn up with grapes and tomatoes and just open the packets. I can just smell the chemicals 😂 (not really, but grapes especially are usually covered with them).

I'd be as cautious as possible I guess. You can buy fruit and veg wash from Greenscents BTW, if that gives you more confidence.

Thanks for all your messages :)
i think I will just avoid uncooked fruit/veg/salad outside of the home as I know I will drive myself crazy with paranoia otherwise.
Although I do live in the south of France and it’s currently 34 degrees so it won’t be so easy…! But it’s a short term sacrifice for (hopefully) a long term gain :)

I rarely wash anything, never check use by dates. I’m 35 weeks pregnant now, and had a miscarriage last year, and it’s never even. Crossed my mind to be so obsessive