Food in pregnancy

Can I eat this?

Search a food or drink to see whether it’s safe while you’re pregnant, and how to make it safe if it can be. Every answer links to the NHS page it comes from.

33 results

Cheese and dairy

  • Brie, camembert and other white-rind cheese

    Be careful

    Only cooked until steaming hot, like baked brie.

    Includes brie, camembert, chèvreSource: NHS

  • Hard cheese

    Safe

    Fine even if unpasteurised.

    Includes cheddar, parmesan, gruyèreSource: NHS

  • Pasteurised milk, yoghurt, cream and ice cream

    Safe

    Cow, sheep or goat.

    Includes milk, yoghurt, cream, ice creamSource: NHS

  • Pasteurised soft cheese

    Safe

    Fine if it’s pasteurised.

    Includes mozzarella, feta, halloumi, paneer, cream cheese, ricotta, burrata, cottage cheeseSource: NHS

  • Soft blue cheese

    Be careful

    Only cooked until steaming hot.

    Includes gorgonzola, danish blue, roquefortSource: NHS

  • Unpasteurised milk, cream and yoghurt

    Avoid

    Including unpasteurised butter and ice cream. They can contain listeria.

    Includes raw milk, unpasteurised butterSource: NHS

Meat

  • Chicken, pork, burgers and sausages

    Safe

    Cooked all the way through, with no pink or blood.

    Includes chicken, pork, turkey, duck, burger, sausage, mince, black puddingSource: NHS

  • Liver and liver products

    Avoid

    Too much vitamin A, which can harm your baby.

    Includes liver, liver sausage, liver pâtéSource: NHS

  • Pâté, including veggie pâté

    Be careful

    Keep chilled and eat before the use-by date. Avoid liver pâté, as liver is too high in vitamin A.

    Includes pate, vegetarian pâtéSource: NHS

  • Raw or undercooked meat

    Avoid

    Including rare burgers and sausages.

    Includes rare burger, carpaccio, steak tartareSource: NHS

  • Salami, chorizo, pepperoni, prosciutto

    Be careful

    Only cooked until steaming hot, like on a pizza.

    Includes salami, chorizo, pepperoni, prosciutto, parma ham, cured meatSource: NHS

  • Sliced ham and cooked chicken

    Be careful

    Keep chilled and eat before the use-by date.

    Includes ham, cold meat, deli meatSource: NHS

  • Steak and lamb

    Safe

    Whole cuts, cooked well on the outside. Rolled joints need cooking all the way through.

    Includes steak, lamb, beef, cutletsSource: NHS

  • Venison, pheasant, partridge and goose

    Avoid

    Game can contain lead.

    Includes venison, pheasant, partridge, goose, gameSource: NHS

Fish

  • Cooked fish and shellfish

    Safe

    Prawns, crab, mussels, squid, lobster. Cold, ready-to-eat prawns must be cooked until steaming hot.

    Includes prawns, crab, mussels, squid, lobsterSource: NHS

  • Raw shellfish, like oysters

    Avoid

    Cooked shellfish is fine.

    Includes oysters, raw shellfishSource: NHS

  • Salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout

    Be careful

    No more than 2 portions a week.

    Includes salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout, herring, oily fishSource: NHS

  • Smoked salmon

    Be careful

    Only cooked until steaming hot.

    Includes smoked fish, cured fish, gravlaxSource: NHS

  • Sushi with raw fish

    Avoid

    Even if the fish was frozen first. Sushi with cooked fish or veg is fine.

    Includes sushi, sashimi, raw fishSource: NHS

  • Swordfish, shark and marlin

    Avoid

    Too much mercury.

    Includes swordfish, shark, marlinSource: NHS

  • Tuna

    Be careful

    No more than 4 cans or 2 steaks a week.

    Includes tinned tuna, tuna steakSource: NHS

Eggs

  • British Lion eggs

    Safe

    Fine runny or raw, and in homemade mayo or mousse. The same goes for hen eggs from the Laid in Britain scheme.

    Includes runny eggs, raw eggs, mayonnaise, mousse, laid in britainSource: NHS

  • Other eggs

    Be careful

    Hen eggs that aren’t British Lion or Laid in Britain, and duck, goose or quail eggs: cook until the white and yolk are solid.

    Includes duck eggs, quail eggs, goose eggsSource: NHS

Drinks

  • Alcohol

    Avoid

    It’s safest not to drink at all.

    Includes wine, beer, prosecco, ginSource: NHS

  • Coffee

    Be careful

    Up to 200mg of caffeine a day in total. A mug of instant is about 100mg.

    Includes caffeine, latte, espressoSource: NHS

  • Cola and energy drinks

    Be careful

    Cola about 40mg a can, energy drinks about 80mg.

    Includes cola, coke, energy drink, caffeineSource: NHS

  • Herbal tea

    Be careful

    Up to 4 cups a day. Not ones with liquorice root.

    Includes peppermint tea, camomile, liquorice teaSource: NHS

  • Tea

    Be careful

    About 75mg of caffeine a mug.

    Includes caffeine, green teaSource: NHS

Fruit and veg

  • Enoki mushrooms

    Be careful

    Cook them thoroughly.

    Includes enoki, mushroomsSource: NHS

  • Fruit, veg and salad

    Safe

    Wash it well first.

    Includes fruit, vegetables, salad, lettuce, tomatoesSource: NHS

Other

  • Chocolate

    Safe

    A little caffeine: under 25mg in a 50g dark bar.

    Includes dark chocolate, milk chocolateSource: NHS

  • Peanuts and other nuts

    Safe

    Unless you’re allergic or have been told not to.

    Includes peanuts, peanut butter, nutsSource: NHS

  • Ready-made sandwiches and salads

    Be careful

    Keep chilled and eat before the use-by date.

    Includes meal deal, sandwich, pre-cut fruitSource: NHS

More on eating well

Read our guide to what you can and can’t eat in pregnancy, how much caffeine is OK, and what to do about drinking before you knew you were pregnant.

This is general information based on NHS and other UK guidance. Every body is different, so speak to your midwife or GP if you’re unsure about anything.

When it’s more than a question

Ask a midwife in the Dearbump app.

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