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 carefulOnly cooked until steaming hot, like baked brie.
Includes brie, camembert, chèvreSource: NHS
Hard cheese
SafeFine even if unpasteurised.
Includes cheddar, parmesan, gruyèreSource: NHS
Pasteurised milk, yoghurt, cream and ice cream
SafeCow, sheep or goat.
Includes milk, yoghurt, cream, ice creamSource: NHS
Pasteurised soft cheese
SafeFine if it’s pasteurised.
Includes mozzarella, feta, halloumi, paneer, cream cheese, ricotta, burrata, cottage cheeseSource: NHS
Soft blue cheese
Be carefulOnly cooked until steaming hot.
Includes gorgonzola, danish blue, roquefortSource: NHS
Unpasteurised milk, cream and yoghurt
AvoidIncluding unpasteurised butter and ice cream. They can contain listeria.
Includes raw milk, unpasteurised butterSource: NHS
Meat
Chicken, pork, burgers and sausages
SafeCooked all the way through, with no pink or blood.
Includes chicken, pork, turkey, duck, burger, sausage, mince, black puddingSource: NHS
Liver and liver products
AvoidToo much vitamin A, which can harm your baby.
Includes liver, liver sausage, liver pâtéSource: NHS
Pâté, including veggie pâté
Be carefulKeep 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
AvoidIncluding rare burgers and sausages.
Includes rare burger, carpaccio, steak tartareSource: NHS
Salami, chorizo, pepperoni, prosciutto
Be carefulOnly cooked until steaming hot, like on a pizza.
Includes salami, chorizo, pepperoni, prosciutto, parma ham, cured meatSource: NHS
Sliced ham and cooked chicken
Be carefulKeep chilled and eat before the use-by date.
Includes ham, cold meat, deli meatSource: NHS
Steak and lamb
SafeWhole 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
AvoidGame can contain lead.
Includes venison, pheasant, partridge, goose, gameSource: NHS
Fish
Cooked fish and shellfish
SafePrawns, 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
AvoidCooked shellfish is fine.
Includes oysters, raw shellfishSource: NHS
Salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout
Be carefulNo more than 2 portions a week.
Includes salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout, herring, oily fishSource: NHS
Smoked salmon
Be carefulOnly cooked until steaming hot.
Includes smoked fish, cured fish, gravlaxSource: NHS
Sushi with raw fish
AvoidEven if the fish was frozen first. Sushi with cooked fish or veg is fine.
Includes sushi, sashimi, raw fishSource: NHS
Swordfish, shark and marlin
AvoidToo much mercury.
Includes swordfish, shark, marlinSource: NHS
Tuna
Be carefulNo more than 4 cans or 2 steaks a week.
Includes tinned tuna, tuna steakSource: NHS
Eggs
British Lion eggs
SafeFine 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 carefulHen 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
AvoidIt’s safest not to drink at all.
Includes wine, beer, prosecco, ginSource: NHS
Coffee
Be carefulUp 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 carefulCola about 40mg a can, energy drinks about 80mg.
Includes cola, coke, energy drink, caffeineSource: NHS
Herbal tea
Be carefulUp to 4 cups a day. Not ones with liquorice root.
Includes peppermint tea, camomile, liquorice teaSource: NHS
Tea
Be carefulAbout 75mg of caffeine a mug.
Includes caffeine, green teaSource: NHS
Fruit and veg
Enoki mushrooms
Be carefulCook them thoroughly.
Includes enoki, mushroomsSource: NHS
Fruit, veg and salad
SafeWash it well first.
Includes fruit, vegetables, salad, lettuce, tomatoesSource: NHS
Other
Chocolate
SafeA little caffeine: under 25mg in a 50g dark bar.
Includes dark chocolate, milk chocolateSource: NHS
Peanuts and other nuts
SafeUnless you’re allergic or have been told not to.
Includes peanuts, peanut butter, nutsSource: NHS
Ready-made sandwiches and salads
Be carefulKeep 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.
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