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Pregnancy nutrition: Foods to avoid during pregnancy
Avoid seafood high in mercury
Avoid raw, undercooked or contaminated seafood
Avoid undercooked meat, poultry and eggs
Avoid unpasteurized foods
Avoid unwashed fruits and vegetables
Avoid excess caffeine
Avoid herbal tea
Avoid alcohol
Content
Don't eat seafood high in mercury
Don't eat raw, undercooked or tainted seafood
Don't eat undercooked meat, poultry or eggs
Don't eat unpasteurized foods
Don't eat unwashed fruits and vegetables
Don't have too much caffeine
Don't drink herbal tea
Don't drink alcohol
Avoid raw, undercooked or contaminated seafood
Avoid undercooked meat, poultry and eggs
Avoid unpasteurized foods
Avoid unwashed fruits and vegetables
Avoid excess caffeine
Avoid herbal tea
Avoid alcohol
Content
Don't eat seafood high in mercury
Don't eat raw, undercooked or tainted seafood
Don't eat undercooked meat, poultry or eggs
Don't eat unpasteurized foods
Don't eat unwashed fruits and vegetables
Don't have too much caffeine
Don't drink herbal tea
Don't drink alcohol
Don't eat raw, undercooked or tainted seafood
To avoid harmful bacteria or viruses in seafood:
- Don't eat raw fish and shellfish. Examples of raw or undercooked foods to avoid include sushi, sashimi, ceviche and raw oysters, scallops or clams.
- Don't eat uncooked seafood that's refrigerated. Examples include seafood labeled nova style, lox, kippered, smoked or jerky. It's OK to eat smoked seafood if it's in a casserole or other cooked dish. Canned and shelf-stable versions also are safe.
- Watch for local fish advisories. If you eat fish from local waters, check for fish advisories to see how often you can safely eat those fish. Make sure to do this when water pollution is a concern. If you're not sure about the safety of fish you have already eaten, don't eat any more fish that week.
- Cook seafood well. Cook fish to an inside temperature of 145 F (63 C). Fish is done when it flakes with a fork and looks milky white throughout. Cook shrimp, lobster and scallops until they're milky white. Cook clams, mussels and oysters until their shells open. Throw away any that don't open.
