All categories
Food
Meals, dishes, cuisines, cheeses, seafood
Products & items
- SushiRaw-fish sushi raises two separate questions: raw seafood handling and mercury content.
- Smoked salmonCold-smoked fish is ready-to-eat and chilled, which is a listeria consideration.
- Caesar saladThe leaves, the dressing and the cheese each need a quick check.
- Soft cheeseMould-ripened and unpasteurised cheeses carry listeria risk; pasteurised hard cheese does not.
- Deli meat sandwichChilled ready-to-eat meats — heat until steaming.
- TiramisuTraditional recipes use raw egg, and some also contain alcohol and coffee.
- Runny or soft-boiled eggsSalmonella is the consideration unless the eggs are pasteurised.
- SuyaSpiced grilled beef skewers — assessed on doneness, holding time and handling rather than the dish name.
- Jollof riceThoroughly cooked rice and tomato stew — generally straightforward.
- Egusi soupMelon-seed soup with leafy greens and meat or fish — cooked through, so the checks are about the protein and greens.
- Jerk chickenGrilled or braised meat dishes — cook-through and hot holding are what matter.
- PapayaRipe papaya and unripe green papaya are treated differently.
- PâtéLiver-based spread — high in vitamin A, and often chilled and ready-to-eat.
- Raw sproutsRaw sprouted seeds served cold in salads, sandwiches and noodle dishes.
Ingredients & components
- Raw or undercooked fish and shellfishNot recommendedRaw fish and shellfish are generally not recommended in pregnancy because of listeria and parasite risk.
- High-mercury fishNot recommendedHigh-mercury species are advised against during pregnancy.
- Cooked low-mercury fishGenerally safeEncouraged in pregnancy — commonly around 2–3 servings per week of lower-mercury species.
- Unpasteurised or soft-ripened cheeseNot recommendedUnpasteurised and soft mould-ripened cheeses are generally avoided; pasteurised hard cheeses and cooked soft cheeses are fine.
- Deli meat and cold cured meatsCautionGenerally advised to heat until steaming before eating; pâté is avoided.
- Raw or runny eggCautionFully cooked eggs are recommended unless the eggs are pasteurised.
- Undercooked or rare meatCautionSafety depends on doneness and handling, not the dish name — cook thoroughly and eat freshly made and hot.
- Unripe (green) papayaCautionRipe papaya is generally considered fine; unripe/green papaya latex is traditionally avoided.
- Fresh salads, sprouts and pre-washed greensCautionVegetables are encouraged; the caution is about washing, raw sprouts, and dressings made with raw egg.
- Licorice rootCautionOccasional small amounts are one thing; regular or large amounts of real licorice are not generally recommended.
- Raw sproutsNot recommendedRaw sprouts are not generally recommended in pregnancy. Thoroughly cooked sprouts are a different answer.
- Liver and pâtéNot recommendedLiver and liver pâté are not generally recommended in pregnancy because of very high vitamin A.
- HoneyGenerally safeGenerally considered low risk during pregnancy, including raw honey.
- Artificial sweetenersCautionAspartame, sucralose and stevia are generally considered low risk in normal amounts; moderation is the usual advice.
- GingerGenerally safeCommonly used for pregnancy nausea and generally considered low risk in food and tea amounts.
Mikeera offers educational decision support, not a diagnosis. Nothing here is a promise that something is completely safe — check anything important with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.