Diet- and Food-Related Concerns

Foodborne Illness

Foodborne illness can have more significant implications for pregnant women than for non-pregnant women; in some cases, foodborne illness can lead to miscarriage. Some foodborne illnesses that have been associated with risks during pregnancy are reviewed below, along with recommendations for prevention.

Listeriosis, caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe illness in the newborn. Pregnant women are advised to avoid foods which have been found to have the bacteria. These foods include pate, soft, mold-ripened cheese (e.g., Brie, Camembert, queso blanco, fresco), unpasteurized milk products, and processed meats such as deli and lunch meats and hot dogs, and salads made in a store, such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, or tuna salad.

Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. Cleaning the refrigerator after skills, especially from raw meat and poultry, with hot, soapy water, and washing hands for 20 seconds with soap and water after touching hot dogs, raw meat, poultry, or seafood may help prevent infection.

The bacteria are heat-sensitive, so guidelines call for reheating meats and cheeses (especially hot dogs, luncheon meats, refrigerated smoked seafood, cheeses, and deli meats) until they are steaming hot and washing raw vegetables and fruits well.

Symptoms of Listeriosis include fever, fatigue, chills, aches, upset stomach, abdominal pain and diarrhea and may appear two to six weeks after ingestion. (USDA, 2017)

Salmonellosis may cause miscarriage or premature labor. The bacteria that cause salmonellosis, salmonella, are most often found in raw eggs and undercooked poultry. Prevention guidelines include thorough cooking of foods, especially those with eggs and poultry, and avoidance of foods which contain raw eggs (e.g., raw cookie dough and homemade mayonnaise). (USDA, 2013)

Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gongii. The most common foods that contain Toxoplasma gongii are raw/undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk (especially goat’s milk). Pregnant women should also avoid contact with soil or cat litter trays, which often contain the bacteria.Most infected infants will not have symptoms at birth but may develop symptoms such as blindness or cognitive disability later in life. Treatment is available during pregnancy, however both the mother and baby should be monitored closely. (CDC, 2018b)

Campylobacter has been associated with premature birth, spontaneous abortion, and stillbirths. It is sometimes found in poultry, untreated water, domestic pets, soil, and unpasteurized milk.

Women from some cultures are at higher risk for foodborne illness because they use unpasteurized milk, make their own soft cheeses, etc. (e.g., women from Latino or other Hispanic cultures)

Overall:

• No unpasteurized milk
• No soft cheese (unless made with pasteurized milk)
• Cook all meats, poultry, and eggs thoroughly
• Cook any deli and lunch meats/hot dogs
• Wash hands

Resources related to foodborne illness:

• http://www.extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/foodnut/09372.pdf
• http://www.foodsafety.gov/risk/pregnant/index.html
• https://www.foodinsight.org/sites/default/files/Healthy%20Eating%20FINAL%20Web.pdf
• https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/women.html