Pregnancy Food Safety

What you will be able to do

• explain the main risks behind the HSE food advice in pregnancy: listeria, toxoplasma, salmonella, vitamin A and mercury.
• sort everyday foods into enjoy, limit and avoid, using the HSE guidance.
• check whether a cheese is safe, using its type and whether it is made with pasteurised milk.
• plan fish meals within the pregnancy advice for oily fish and tuna.
• keep caffeine within 200mg a day and explain the advice on alcohol.
• store, cook and reheat food in ways that reduce the risk of food poisoning.
• order safely when eating out, and know who to contact if you are worried after eating something.

1. 1Why food safety matters in pregnancy

   Understand the handful of germs and nutrients behind the HSE food advice, so the rules make sense and are easier to remember.

   • The germs behind the rules
   • The big picture: enjoy, limit, avoid

   Fridge safe and avoid list

2. 2Cheese, milk and other dairy foods

   Learn which cheeses are fine, which to avoid, and how to check milk, yogurt, cream, ice cream and desserts.

   • Which cheeses are fine?
   • Milk, yogurt, cream, ice cream and desserts

   Cheese checker

3. 3Meat, pâté, liver and eggs

   Learn how to cook meat safely, why cold cured meats and pâté are avoided, why liver is avoided, and how to cook eggs safely.

   • Meat and cold cured meats
   • Pâté, liver and vitamin A
   • Eggs: cook until solid

   Fridge safe and avoid list

4. 4Fish and shellfish

   Find out why fish is still worth eating in pregnancy, the advice on oily fish and tuna, and why smoked fish, sushi and pre-cooked shellfish are avoided.

   • Fish is good for you, with a few limits
   • Smoked fish, sushi and shellfish

   Eating-out safety cardFridge safe and avoid list

5. 5Drinks: caffeine, alcohol and herbal teas

   Learn the HSE limit for caffeine, where caffeine hides, why the safest choice is no alcohol, and what to know about herbal teas and other drinks.

   • Caffeine: 200mg a day
   • Alcohol, herbal teas and other drinks

   Caffeine trackerCaffeine counter

6. 6A safe kitchen: storing, cooking and reheating

   Use simple kitchen habits to cut the risk of listeria, salmonella and toxoplasma at home: chilling, cleaning, cooking and avoiding cross-contamination.

   • Fridge and storage habits
   • Cooking and reheating until steaming hot
   • Fruit, vegetables, gardens and pets

   Storage and reheating checklistFridge safe and avoid list

7. 7Eating out, travel and what to do if you are worried

   Order confidently away from home, know the signs of food-related infection in pregnancy, and know exactly who to contact.

   • Eating out, takeaways and parties
   • If you have eaten something on the avoid list

   Eating-out safety card

• ListFridge safe and avoid listA printable list for your fridge door showing which everyday foods are fine, which must be cooked until steaming hot, which to limit and which to avoid while you are pregnant.
• BuilderCheese checkerChoose a cheese, whether it is pasteurised and how it will be served, to see what HSE guidance says about eating it in pregnancy.
• CardsEating-out safety cardPocket-sized cards to check on your phone or print, so you can order with confidence in cafes, restaurants, takeaways and at parties.
• CheckerStorage and reheating checklistCheck your kitchen habits for storing, cooking and reheating food against the basics that help reduce the risk of listeria, salmonella and other food poisoning in pregnancy.
• TrackerCaffeine trackerLog your daily drinks and caffeine for 4 weeks to check you are staying within the HSE guide of no more than 200mg a day in pregnancy.
• CalculatorCaffeine counterAdd up the caffeine in today's drinks and snacks and compare it with the HSE pregnancy guide of 200mg a day.