When you're pregnant, avoid eating soft cheeses, unpasteurised milk products and undercooked meat, fish and eggs ? these may contain germs that can harm your baby. Wash all fruits and vegetables and don't eat them if they've been pre-cut.

According to 2026 health guidelines, pregnant women should strictly avoid raw or undercooked seafood, such as sushi, sashimi, and raw oysters, due to the high risk of parasites and bacteria like Listeria. Secondly, unpasteurized dairy products, including soft cheeses like brie, camembert, and feta (unless explicitly labeled as pasteurized), should be avoided to prevent listeriosis, which can be harmful to a developing baby. Finally, it is recommended to avoid high-mercury fish like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish, as mercury can negatively impact the baby's developing nervous system. While many other foods require caution—such as deli meats, which should be heated until steaming hot—these three categories represent the most critical dietary restrictions to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Additionally, raw sprouts and unwashed produce should be handled with extreme care to avoid E. coli or Salmonella infections that can cause severe complications for both the mother and the infant.