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Food safety guidelines for pregnancy

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Prevent maternal and fetal illness from food-related diseases by following these safe food preparation guidelines

  • Cook all foods from animal sources (beef, pork, poultry) thoroughly
  • Wash fruits and vegetables before eating
  • Separate all uncooked meats (including poultry and smoked seafood), ready-to-eat foods, fruits, breads, vegetables, and cooked foods
  • Avoid unpasteurized milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk
  • Use all perishable precooked or ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible
  • Wash hands, dishes, utensils, cutting boards, and refrigerator spills after contact with uncooked foods; clean with hot soapy water for at least 20 seconds
  • Refrigerate unused foods promptly
  • Avoid soft cheeses (feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined, Mexican-style cheese); you can eat yogurt and hard, processed, cream, and cottage cheeses
  • Cook leftover foods or ready-to-eat foods thoroughly before eating
  • Avoid or thoroughly reheat cold cuts, hot dogs, and deli meats before eating to prevent acquiring a bacteria called listeriosis
  • Do not eat smoked seafood unless it is in a cooked dish, such as a casserole.
  • ​Clean your refrigerator on a regular basis.
  • Keep your refrigerator temperature at 40° F or lower.
  • Check expiration dates on perishables.