parent data
Toolkit
About us
FAQs
Contact us
Saved articles
Ask Petey
Log in Subscribe
← Frequently Asked Questions

What foods are actually unsafe during pregnancy?

Last updated on June 3, 2026

Not all food restrictions in pregnancy carry equal risk. The most important ones are rooted in infection risk: listeria (deli meats, soft cheeses, raw sprouts), toxoplasmosis (raw meat, unwashed produce), and mercury (high-mercury fish like shark, swordfish, and king mackerel). Beyond these, many common food fears — including sushi from reputable sources and moderate caffeine — are not well-supported by evidence as harmful.

Evidence Summary

  • Data source: CDC, FDA, and epidemiological data on foodborne illness rates and pregnancy outcomes

  • Key finding: Listeria risk from deli meats is real but low in absolute terms — roughly 1 in 83,000 deli meat servings causes listeria infection

  • Key finding: High-mercury fish (shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish) should be avoided; low-mercury fish (salmon, shrimp, tilapia) is safe and beneficial

  • Key finding: Raw eggs carry salmonella risk; pasteurized eggs eliminate this risk

  • Caveat: Risk tolerance is personal — the data helps you make an informed decision, not a mandated one

Confidence: High confidence on mercury and listeria risks — well-established epidemiological data. Moderate confidence on sushi/deli risks — low absolute risk but not zero.

Read More

Related Questions

Powered byfor ParentData