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Food Safety During Pregnancy |
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by Patricia A. Kendall
Did you know that during pregnancy you are MORE at risk for getting a foodborne illness?
Foodborne illnesses come from foods you eat. Symptoms can be mild or severe and may include:
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Nausea/vomiting
- Fever
- Stomach ache
- Chills
Foodborne illnesses can have harmful effects on you and your unborn baby. If you get sick from Listeria, Toxoplasma or Salmonella, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious health problems for the newborn baby.
A mother may not show signs of a foodborne illness, but the infection can still be passed to her baby. If you think you might have a foodborne illness, see your doctor right away!
Skip risky foods and learn what to choose. Use a food thermometer to make sure food is well cooked.
Keep Your Baby Safe During Pregnancy
| Instead of: |
Choose: |
| Cold hot dogs, deli meats and luncheon meats |
Cold hot dogs, deli meats and luncheon meats reheated to steaminghot |
| Under-cooked meat and poultry |
Fully cooked meat and poultry |
| Raw or under-cooked seafood |
Fully cooked seafood |
| Raw or under-cooked seafood |
Fully cooked seafood |
| Refrigerated smoked fish or pre- cooked seafood such as shrimp, crab and deli seafood salads |
Tuna, salmon or crabmeat in cans or pouches |
Refrigerated pâtés and meat spreads
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Canned pâtés or meat spreads |
Raw sprouts
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Fresh vegetables (well-cleaned)
or cooked sprouts |
Soft cheeses made from raw milk such as Feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, queso fresco, queso blanco and Panela
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Hard cheeses, processed cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese, mozzarella, or soft cheeses made from pasteurized milk |
Raw or under-cooked eggs
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Eggs that are cooked until the white and yolk are firm but the infection can still be
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| Raw milk or milk products |
Pasteurized milk or milk products |
Unpasteurized juice (May be labeled “fresh squeezed” or “chilled”)
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Frozen concentrate or canned juices OR refrigerated juices that are labeled as pasteurized |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 27 May 2007 )
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