Pregnancy & Motherhood 5 min read

Which foods should be avoided during pregnancy?

Lena Bauer ✓

Diets Premium Expert • 24.09.2026

✓

Scientifically reviewed by a clinical dietitian: This article has been peer-reviewed for adherence to IŻŻ, WHO, and PTGiP clinical nutritional standards.

Diets Premium Expert Lena Bauer

min read 5 min

Scientifically reviewed by a clinical dietitian 24.09.2026

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Which foods should be avoided during pregnancy?

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Which foods should be avoided during pregnancy?

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Key Takeaways

Throughout pregnancy, certain food components require extra caution. During this period, the expectant mother's immune system is more vulnerable to harmful microorganisms present in food and beverages. Bacterial infections can lead to serious complications, so it is important to be aware of these substances that should be avoided.

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Fast Food and Deep-Fried Meals.

The diet during pregnancy should consist primarily of high-quality meals and products. Although the body's energy demand is higher then, the expectant mother can't give in to every desire. Fast food is often very calorific, mainly due to its high fat content. It's not at all a valuable fat like olive oil or coconut oil. Popular fast foods mainly contain saturated fats and trans fat isomers. Such foods also have a high glycemic index and a high acid load, and it's also not good for the health of the future mother, especially if you're pregnant with sugar.

Unpasteurized, Mold-Ripened Cheeses and Feta.

These products can be infected with the bacterium Listeria, which causes acute food poisoning, similar in its symptoms to the flu. The listeria can multiply at low temperatures, so even keeping these products in the refrigerator does not guarantee their safety. It is worth adding that mold cheeses are made from unpasteurized milk, which further reduces their safety for the expectant mother and baby.

Raw and Undercooked Meat (Toxoplasmosis Risk).

Raw or uncooked meat can contain parasites (seed, shrimp or human fungi) as well as bacteria: listeria and toxoplasma. Thermal processing kills them, and their toxins break down into harmless compounds. This includes not only poultry or pork, which should never be eaten raw, but also beef.

Raw Eggs and Salmonella Concerns.

The egg shells can contain salmonella bacteria and other contaminants. Contact with them can cause foodborne infections that are dangerous to the fetus. It's important to note that egg packaging is rarely tightly sealed, and many people like to check if any of the eggs in the packaging are intact. This is also the moment when the egg may come into contact with bacteria from other people. When we break a raw egg, there is a risk that the germs from its shell will get inside it. Cooking the egg guarantees that the dangerous microorganisms on its shelf will be damaged for a long time.

Predatory Fish and High-Mercury Seafood.

Because of the presence of heavy metals and dioxins, it's better to limit salmon, tuna and seafood, but that doesn't mean that the expectant mother shouldn't eat fish. It's recommended that the seafood should be eaten no more than twice a week in quantities of 100 grams.

Liver and Excessive Vitamin A Intake.

It contains a high amount of vitamin A, which is excessively toxic to the fetus and causes damage to the nervous and skeletal systems. It is also a high cholesterol product. The liver is therefore not a valuable product for a pregnant woman. According to the recommendations of the International Food Safety Authority (2017), the daily requirement (RDA) for this vitamin in pregnant women is up to 770 μg. 100 g of chicken liver can contain up to 6,500 μg of this ingredient.

Spoiled, Unwashed, or Stale Produce.

There's an obvious point, but I think we all know the saying: it's better to eat and chew than to waste it. That's why many people have a habit of picking up overcooked or over-coated parts of vegetables or fruits. It's a shame to throw away an apple that only has a small, brown spot on it. But the expectant mother can't afford to take that risk.

Other Substances to Eliminate: Alcohol and Excess Sugar.

A cup of coffee (200 ml) contains 80 to 140 mg of caffeine, while a can of coffee may contain up to 180 mg of coffee, but caffeine also contains tea (also green), cocoa and chocolate, coca-cola and energy drinks. The acceptable daily dose for pregnant and breastfeeding women is 300 mg (according to the British Food Standards Agency 200 mg per day).