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Pregnancy nutrition: Foods to avoid during pregnancy
Content
Avoid seafood high in mercury
Avoid raw, undercooked or contaminated seafood
Avoid undercooked meat, poultry and eggs
Avoid unpasteurized foods
Avoid unwashed fruits and vegetables
Avoid excess caffeine
Avoid herbal tea
Avoid alcohol
Avoid raw, undercooked or contaminated seafood
To avoid harmful bacteria or viruses in seafood:
- Avoid raw fish and shellfish. Examples include sushi, sashimi, ceviche and raw oysters, scallops or clams.
- Avoid refrigerated, uncooked seafood. Examples include seafood labeled nova style, lox, kippered, smoked or jerky. It's OK to eat smoked seafood if it's an ingredient in a casserole or other cooked dish. Canned and shelf-stable versions also are safe.
- Understand local fish advisories. If you eat fish from local waters, pay attention to local fish advisories — especially if water pollution is a concern. If you are uncertain about the safety of fish you have already eaten, don't eat any other fish that week.
- Cook seafood properly. Cook fish to an internal temperature of 145 F (63 C). Fish is done when it separates into flakes and appears opaque throughout. Cook shrimp, lobster and scallops until they're milky white. Cook clams, mussels and oysters until their shells open. Discard any that don't open.
