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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 seafood high in mercury

Seafood can be a great source of protein, and the omega-3 fatty acids in many fish can promote your baby's brain and eye development. However, some fish and shellfish contain potentially dangerous levels of mercury. Too much mercury could harm your baby's developing nervous system.

The bigger and older the fish, the more mercury it's likely to contain. During pregnancy, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages you to avoid:

  • Bigeye tuna
  • King mackerel
  • Marlin
  • Orange roughy
  • Swordfish
  • Shark
  • Tilefish

So what's safe? Some types of seafood contain little mercury. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 8 to 12 ounces (224 to 336 grams) — two or three servings — of seafood a week during pregnancy. Consider:

  • Anchovies
  • Catfish
  • Cod
  • Herring
  • Light canned tuna
  • Pacific oysters
  • Pollock
  • Salmon
  • Sardines
  • Shad
  • Shrimp
  • Tilapia
  • Trout

However, limit white (albacore) tuna to 6 ounces (168 grams) a week.

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