What are the foods to be avoided during pregnancy?

It's important to know the kinds of foods that are safe to eat and which need to be avoided while pregnant. As with any diet, it is important that you consult a physician for any advice regarding foods to avoid.

Following is a list, while not exhaustive, of certain foods that need to be avoided during pregnancy:

• Raw meats like sushi, seafood (especially shellfish), rare or uncooked beef and poultry should be avoided due to the risk of coliform bacteria, salmonella and toxoplasmosis

• Salmonella may be found in raw eggs, foods containing raw egg like Caesar dressing, homemade ice cream or custard, mayonnaise, unpasteurized eggnog or even Hollandaise sauce.

• Soft cheeses such as blue cheese, brie, cambert, feta (goat cheese), Latin-American soft white cheeses (queso blanco and queso fresco) and blue-veined cheeses (Roquefort) may become contaminated with Listeria bacteria. Listeria can cause sickness or death in you or your child.

• Deli meats (including hot dogs) lead to outbreaks of form of food poisoning called Listeriosis. Listeriosis is particularly harmful to the fetuses. While the risk is low, you may want to just thoroughly reheat the deli meats to an internal temperature of 165 degrees or better still avoid them altogether.

• Refrigerated smoked seafood - for the risk of Listeria contamination. It is safe if they are contained in cooked dishes. Canned as well as shelf-stable versions are safe to eat.

• Animal liver contains high levels of vitamin A. While vitamin A is good for you, higher consumption may risk a higher incidence of birth defects in babies. As you're possibly already taking prenatal vitamins as well as eating other vitamin A-containing foods, it's better to be safe by not consuming liver on a regular basis.

• You might choose to limit consumption of artificial sweeteners during pregnancy. Instead, substitute it by fruit juice, milk or water.

• For some women, it is also very important to avoid peanuts and the foods that contain them

• Studies have shown that raw sprouts can lead to some incidents of salmonella outbreaks. Pregnant women should eat sprouts that are cooked, or better still is to avoid eating them altogether.

• Fish high in mercury - avoid high-mercury fish like Shark, King Mackerel, Swordfish, and Tilefish. Also reduce fish intake to not more than 2 servings per week.

• Refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads - for Listeria contamination. It is safe to eat canned or shelf-stable versions.

• Unpasteurized milk and juices

• Research has shown that consuming more than 300mg of caffeine a day increases risk of miscarriage and low birth weight. For being on the safer side, stick to not more than 2 mugs of instant coffee or 3 cups of tea or 2 cans of cola per day. Although there is no evidence that moderate amounts of caffeine can harm you or your baby, to be on the safer side, you can opt for decaf hot drinks or fresh juices or coconut water, instead.

• Alcohol - many fetal abnormalities and birth defects are associated with alcohol use during pregnancy. Drinking too much of alcohol can cause emotional problems, physical defects and learning disabilities in children. Hence it is best to avoid alcohol when pregnant.

Finally, it is essential to remember that food handling and preparation are vital in avoiding bacterial infections. Make sure to cook all of foods thoroughly, avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods and do not consume foods which have been frozen or refrigerated longer than as recommended by FDA.