Which are the safe foods for pregnancy? 

This list doesn’t include all foods the safe foods for pregnancy, as it would be far too long. Instead we have concentrated on supplying a list of foods that you might not be very sure about.

Cheese

All hard cheeses are safe in pregnancy, even if made with unpasteurised milk – including blue cheeses such as Stilton.

Soft cheeses, if made with pasteurised milk which are safe to eat during pregnancy include:

• Cottage cheese
• Cream cheese
• Feta
• Goat’s cheese
• Halloumi
• Mozzarella
• Paneer
• Processed cheeses, such as cheese spread
• Ricotta

Fish

• Shell fish that are cooked thoroughly (it is best to avoid raw shellfish when pregnant), including:
  • Crab
  • Crayfish
  • Clams
  • Lobster
  • Shrimps
  • Mussels
  • Oysters
  • Prawns
  • Scallops
  • Winkles
• Smoked fish, including:
  • Smoked salmon
  • Trout
• White fish, including:
  • Cod
  • Coley
  • Flounder
  • Gurnard
  • Haddock
  • Hake
  • Plaice
  • Skate

Ice cream

Ice cream is safe to eat if made with pasteurised milk and eggs – this should be most of the ice cream you buy in supermarkets. Homemade ice cream should be made with a pasteurised egg substitute or no eggs.

Pasteurised or UHT milk

Milk bought in supermarkets will be pasteurised and is therefore safe to drink. If you are unsure if the milk has been pasteurised boil it before you use it.

Peanuts

Peanuts and food containing peanuts are safe to eat when you are pregnant and breastfeeding. New evidence suggests that eating nuts during pregnancy can reduce the chance of nut allergies in your child. Obviously, if you’re allergic don’t eat nuts!!

Yoghurt

As long as the milk has been pasteurised, yoghurt will be fine to eat. If the yoghurt is homemade, check with the person who made it that the milk has been pasteurised first.

Read more about foods to restrict and foods to avoid in pregnancy.

Information provided by Bump and Beyond Nutrition