Guide to food and drink during pregnancy

Guide to food and drink during pregnancy

Cheese

Yes

• Cheddar
• Parmesan
• Stilton
• Cottage cheese (pasteurised)
• Mozzarella (pasteurised)
• Cream cheese (pasteurised)
• Paneer (pasteurised)
• Halloumi (pasteurised)
• Goat's cheese (pasteurised)
• Processed cheese

No

• Brie
• Camembert
• Feta
• Ricotta
• Blue cheese
• Gorgonzola
• Chevre
• Any unpasteurised cheese
• Imported cheeses

Dairy and eggs

Yes

• Pasteurised milk
• Yoghurt (pasteurised)
• Cooked eggs
• Fried eggs
• Scrambled eggs
• Quiche
• Commercial mayonnaise and aioli

No

• Unpasteurised milk and milk product
• Soft serve ice cream
• Uncooked eggs
• Homemade mayonnaise, aioli or caesar dressing
• Homemade chocolate mousse
• Cake batter
• Pancake batter

Meat and poultry

Yes

• Beef
• Chicken
• Lamb
• Pork
• Sausages
• Mince
• Deli cuts (such as ham, chorizo, salami) — only if cooked fresh and eaten hot
• Hot take-away chicken — purchase fresh and eaten hot

No

• Cold cut meats (such as ham, salami) from deli, salad bar, takeaway
• Cold chicken or turkey (from salad or sandwich shop)
• Stuffing
• Liver and liver products
• Pate and meat spreads

Fruits, vegetables and nuts

Yes

• Whole fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs — thoroughly washed to remove all traces of dirt
• Legumes (such as beans, peas and lentils)
• Nuts (unless already allergic)

No

• Raw sprouts (alfalfa, radish, mung beans, soybeans)
• Rockmelon
• Prepackaged salads and fruit salads
• Ready-made salads (buffets and salad bars)

Fish and seafood

Yes

• Cooked fish and seafood
• Shark/flake, marlin or broadbill/swordfish*
• Deep sea perch or catfish**

* no more than 100g (cooked) per fortnight, with no other fish that fortnight ** no more than 100g (cooked) per week, with no other fish that week

No

• Raw fish
• Raw seafood
• Chilled peeled prawns
• Sushi — raw fish and seafood
• Oysters

Drink

Yes

• Coffee (limit intake)
• Tea (contains caffeine, limit intake)
• Soft drink (limit - beware of excess sugar)
• Juice
• Milk (pasteurised)
• Mineral water

No

• Alcohol
• Unpasteurised milk
• Unpasteurised juice
• Energy drinks
• Herbal teas (caution)