Food Safety During Pregnancy
A precious and delicate condition, pregnancy may be affected by many factors, including foodborne diseases and infections. Various foods contain substances that may endanger the fetus and should therefore not be eaten during pregnancy. The recommendation is to follow the Ministry of Health guidelines as well as food safety guidelines to minimize and prevent unnecessary complications and risks to your health as well as the health of your unborn child.
What is allowed and what is not allowed? Let’s put things straight.
Foods to avoid during pregnancy
Food containing substances that may endanger the health of the unborn child
Fish that contain high levels of lead
Large fish such as large mackerel, swordfish, red tuna, white tuna and even shark tend to contain large dosages of lead, which is why you should avoid eating them. The recommendation is to eat from among the diverse selection of fish from Israel, including light canned tuna.
Alcohol
Avoid consumption of beverages and food that contain alcohol during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. Even consumption of a small quantity of alcohol during pregnancy endangers the fetus and infant or future infants and may cause irreversible damage, such as: impaired brain development, growth disorders, intellectual disorders, facial distortions and even death. Because alcohol is passed through the placenta to the fetus, as well as through breast milk to the infant when nursing, consumption of any amount of alcohol must be avoided at this time.
Foods that may cause infectious diseases
Hormonal changes in your body during pregnancy change and disrupt immune system function. Furthermore, the fetal immune system is still not fully developed, thereby exposing both of you to morbidity caused by food poisoning. The Ministry of Health recommends avoiding the eating of raw food, unpasteurized milk and milk products during pregnancy, and the thorough washing of fruits and vegetables while monitoring the expiration dates of premade food.
Raw meat, fish and eggs
The cooking process of food is important as it destroys bacteria and parasites, making food safe to eat for you during pregnancy. Eating partially cooked or raw meat exposes you and your unborn child to infectious disease, including:
- Listeria: a bacteria found in certain foods that may cause a dangerous disease Listeriosis. An infection that may result in miscarriage, premature delivery and even fetal death.
- Toxoplasma: a parasite that may appear after eating meat that has not be sufficiently cooked or following exposure to cat secretions (as well as through unwashed fruits and vegetables). Contraction of the parasite during pregnancy may result in deafness, developmental delays or blindness in the infant.
- Salmonella: the salmonella bacteria may cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea as well as fever and headaches. On rare occasions, Salmonella may result in a miscarriage.
Foods to avoid during pregnancy:
- Smoked fish that did not undergo a cooking process during their preparation: Lox, smoked salmon, herring, lakerda, ceviche.
- Fish spreads in cream or mayonnaise, such as tarama.
- Raw meat and fish dishes, such as sushi with fish, carpaccio and seafood.
- Liver pate.
- Hot dogs and cold cuts such as pastrami. These may be eaten after being cooked.
- Uncooked food, even in sauces, spreads, creams and desserts (aioli, homemade mayonnaise, hollandaise), homemade ice cream, tiramisu and meringues made of egg protein, such as in lemon pie. Pasteurized sauces, such as pasteurized mayonnaise or ice cream made from pasteurized milk may be eaten.
- Partially cooked eggs, such as sunny side up or soft-boiled egg.
Important to know
Important to know
- Avoid eating vegetarian sushi in restaurants since cross contamination may occur through equipment used to prepare sushi.
- When eating barbequed meat, make sure that the steak, hot dogs and ground beef products have been thoroughly cooked and did not come into contact with raw meat once they have been cooked.
Unpasteurized milk products or milk products from unknown sources
- Eat only dairy products made from pasteurized milk and that come from licensed producers.
- Avoid mature cheeses, ‘mold cheeses’ such as Brie, Camembert, Gorgonzola and Roquefort.
- Also avoid cheese stored in water, such as feta, Tzfatit and Bulgarian cheese. Storage in water may result in bacteria. These may be eaten after being thoroughly cooked, in a quiche for example.
- Avoid eating soft ice cream such as American soft-serve ice cream.
Safe food preparation guidance
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Proper cooking
Sprouts, meet. chicken and fish must be well cooked. Eggs should also be cooked and not "raw".
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Pasteurization
Pasteurized cheeses and dairy products only.
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Prevention
Avoid eating cheeses with mold or a hummus spread, unless it is homemade, and not more than two days after it is made.
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Fruit and vegetables
Wash fruit and vegetables well with running water.
Smart behavior and eating during pregnancy
Buying, storing and using fruits and vegetables during pregnancy
- A variety of fruits and vegetables should be eaten every day.
- Eat cut vegetables or salad shortly after the vegetables were prepared.
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating, even if you plan on peeling them. Bacteria may penetrate fruit when cutting with a knife or peeler.
- Scrub hard fruits and vegetables (watermelon, melons, cucumbers, etc.) with a clean brush or sponge. Then dry with a paper towel to remove any remaining bacteria left on the fruit after washing.
- Eating all types of sprouts is recommended only after having been cooked.
- Store-bought hummus salads may contain listeria. Avoid eating them when pregnant. Prepare fresh homemade hummus salads and eat within two days of preparing it.
Read about food recommended for pregnancy
Buying, storing and heating food during pregnancy
- Premade food should only be purchased from restaurants or licensed stores, and from licensed manufacturers only. The food should only be eaten until the’ best used before date’ expires.
- If eating in a restaurant or anywhere else outside the home, eat cooked hot food with visible steam rising from the food.
- Avoid premade food that was sold on roadside booths, farmers market, etc.
- Avoid freshly squeezed juices and deli products such as cheese, spreads and salads, that are sliced and sold at weight before the customer.
- Cooked food that is stored in the refrigerator after preparation must be eaten within two days, and thoroughly heated until steam is visible.