Food Don'ts Print and Go Guide

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There are 3 main dangers lurking in the food pregnant women eat. They are:

• Listeria - a dangerous bacterium that can grow even in cold refrigerators.
• Mercury - a harmful metal found in high levels in some fish.
• Toxoplasma - a risky parasite found in undercooked meat and unwashed fruits and vegetables.

These things can cause serious illness or even death to you or your unborn baby.

Follow these food facts to help keep you and your baby healthy:

• DON'T eat raw or undercooked meat, poultry, fish or shellfish (sushi or sashimi)

• DON'T eat swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, and shark.

• DON'T eat refrigerated smoked seafood like whitefish, salmon and mackerel. These products are usually labeled "Nova-style", lox, kippered or jerky.

• DON'T eat refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads.

• DON'T eat hot dogs and luncheon meats — unless they're reheated until steaming hot.

• DON'T eat soft cheeses like feta, brie, camembert, "blue-veined cheeses," "queso blanco," "queso fresco," and Panela unless the label says they are pasteurized or made from pasteurized milk.

• DON'T drink raw or unpasteurized milk or eat foods that contain unpasteurized milk.

• DON'T eat unwashed fruits and vegetables.

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition