Forbidden Foods in pregnancy

[jenny82]

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[jenmcn1]

I'm not very strict since this is my 3rd baby - just not as worries about it all. BUT I avoid undercooked meats, don't eat lunch meats anyways, I eat brie and blue veined cheeses, and drink coffee.

 

[Larkspur]

Why is a mcflurry banned? That's ridiculous. Iv personally never got ill from eating a mcflurry and neither has anyone I know either. Think you'll be safe lol x

I'm personally pretty relaxed about foods. I judge on the quality of the manufacturer/producer - I probably wouldn't eat a cold deli sandwich from a petrol station snack bar, but if I buy a good quality salami from a company I've bought from for years – and whether I know how fresh the food is and how it's been washed/stored/prepared. I'll happily make my own cold-meat sandwich with ingredients from my own fridge.

Likewise slightly soft eggs, medium meat, soft pasteurised cheeses, etc.

However, the argument "It never happened to me or anyone I know" isn't really a good argument for safety. The risks are small enough that you probably wouldn't know anyone who ever died from listeria, but there are still deaths from it every year, and that's why the guidelines are there.

McFlurries are on the list because the cleaning standards for the icecream-making equipment can be pretty variable, and that's where the issue is. I've read enough threads here from former McDonalds employees saying they know how badly those machines are cleaned, and they wouldn't take the risk, that I wouldn't either.

 

[Rachie004]

I've noticed alot of cheeses that they say you shouldn't eat are actually okay because they're made from pasturised milk. I believe the issue is due to the milk being unpasturised?

The ones we are advised to avoid are usually unpasteurized yes, but the issue particularly with types of soft cheese are the levels of moisture within the cheese which makes it a breeding ground for bacteria. Just because it is pasteurized doesn't necessarily means it's OK.

I don't eat anything on the forbidden list. I'm one of those people who like to play it safe, and there's nothing I can't do without for 9 months. The risks may be small but for me I'd rather abstain than worry. I don't drink alcohol either when I'm pregnant. It's not about me getting ill, it's about not making my baby ill and I won't eat or drink something that has any chance of doing that.

Ah, thank you very much - I literally just thought it was an issue because of the unpasturised milk so that is really helpful

Would camembert be okay if it was cooked? Just curious, like you say, there isn't anything that I can't do without for 9 months - I'm only getting one chance at making this baby afterall. xx

 

[Coco Tutu]

For me it's french fries :/ I eat home-made ones, but fatty, fried foods are not exactly the best choice to nurture a baby. Still, I can't resist. Other than that, I play it safe and much like Red, I follow a plant-based diet, so deli meats and soft cheeses where out of the question for me anyway. I have also quit coffee two months before I got pregnant and no cigs or wine. It's my first, so I realize I am a bit overly cautious.

 

[BigLegEmma]

I've been fairly good so far, even though I think the whole risky foods is over played. I had been advised to stay off nuts in my last pregnancy and while breastfeeding, which I was really annoyed about caus I love them and I was doubtful about the risk they posed anyway.
My lo has eczema and had a few allergic reactions (not too serious) so got him allergy tested and peanuts came up as a high response.
Soooo now I am pregnant my dr has told me I am absolutely to avoid nuts

Would exposure to nuts during pregnancy have reduced the chance of your LO having the allergy? I've been chowing everything.

 

[petite ping]

In France, we get tested for toxicoplasmosis at the beginning of the pregnancy so it means that if you already have it you can take less care with how meat is cooked. If you don't, however, you should eat meat well cooked and vegetables well washed. So I generally eat my meat as medium rare as I do have toxicoplasmosis.

I didn't eat any soft cheeses during my last pregnancy pasteurised or otherwise as I was advised to avoid the skins. If you get listeria, the symptoms for you may be no more than a slight cold but your baby has no immunity to it whatsoever. If you eat unpasteurised cheeses cooked, you have to make sure that the cheese reaches over 100°C to be safe. My OB-Gyn told me off after I guiltily admitted to eating 4 cheese pizza.

No paté, no cold cuts, no raw fish, no smoked salmon, no homemade mayonnaise, no homemade ice creams, no big fishes like tuna (high mercury content). No ready grated cheeses.

I still drink tea though and shellfish if I cook it myself and lots of big macs and a sip of wine from my OH's glass when we go out. And I love peanut butter sandwiches but I have no really allergies and allergies do not run in the family.

 

[ShanandBoc]

No ready grated cheeses?

Thats a new one, ive never seen that on any official government health warnings etc. As long as its pasteurized all cheese is fine.

Occasional tuna is fine too so im told. In moderation.

 

[cait]

I think cheese and shellfish are ok if you cook them yourself (as PP said) - that way you know they have been prepared safely etc.

The guidelines change so much from year to year so I think you just need to be sensible and make choices you are comfortable with. e.g. some doctors say no nuts, others say eat them!

For me I just buy the best quality and freshest things I can afford and prepare them myself. (Ok ok not all the time, the cravings for junk food haven't gone away! but surely curry chips are good for you...? )

 

[petite ping]

I would have thought it OK too but my OB-Gyn said no. I had a talk with a friend who worked in the cheese industry who said that she knows what really goes into ready grated cheese packets and she would avoid it too if she was pregnant.

 

[ShanandBoc]

aha ok fair enough.

Guess if you buy it in a block and cut yourself you know clean utensils are used etc hey

 

[dizzyjoo]

I'm not very strict since this is my 3rd baby - just not as worries about it all. BUT I avoid undercooked meats, don't eat lunch meats anyways, I eat brie and blue veined cheeses, and drink coffee.

Same! This is my 3rd and I'm a lot more relaxed lol. OH doesn't want me to drink any alcohol, but I will treat myself to something over Christmas (this will be my 3rd Christmas in about 4/5 pregnant!!!).
I've eaten prawns etc. cooked and piping hot. We had a melted camembert for lunch once and a raclette (melted cheeses and parma ham etc.) at friends.
Wouldn't go as far as eating things like pate and mussels - but have definitely been more relaxed with stuff xxx