Can I Eat?

Pregnancy Food Guide

Pregnancy Food Guide

Not too much

Consume in moderate amounts.

Agave Syrup (Agave Nectar)

Source
Careful
Not too much

Basil

Excessive quantities can cause a build up of toxic oils. In food is fine, but should not be consumed in concentrated or medicinal forms.

Source
Safe
Not too much Not medicinally

Bay Leaf

Reportedly aids flow of breast milk but historically used as an abortifacient (substance to induce abortions) in large quantities.

Source
Careful
Not too much Not medicinally

Black Mustard

The seeds are often used in dishes as a spice.

Source
Safe
Not medicinally Not too much

Black Tea

Black tea types include Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Lapsang Souchong, Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, and many more.

Source
Careful
Caffeine Not too much

Caraway

In large quantities it can cause uterine contractions.

Source
Careful
Not too much Not medicinally

Carp

Carp can contain moderate levels of mercury, and should only be eaten in strictly limited quantities.
Source
Careful
Not too much

Coca-Cola

Be careful with all varieties, including diet versions.

Source
Careful
Caffeine Not too much

Coffee

Do not have more than 200mg of caffeine a day.

Source
Careful
Not too much Caffeine

Daikon Radish

Large quantities can cause digestive tract irritation.
Source
Safe
Not too much

Fenugreek

Has been used to induce labour and is considered to be an emmenagogue.

Source
Careful
Not medicinally Not too much

Gingko Biloba

Excessive quantities can be toxic.
Source
Safe
Not too much

Green Tea

Green tea can contain as much caffeine as regular black tea.

Source
Careful
Caffeine Not too much

Herbal Tea

There's little information on the safety of herbal and green teas in pregnancy, so it's best to drink them in moderation.

Green tea contains caffeine.

Source
Careful
Not too much Not medicinally Caffeine

Jellied Eels

Jellied eels are cooked during the preparation process, but do contain high quantities of vitamin A so don't eat too many.

Safe
Vitamin A Not too much

Kola Nut

Kola nuts contain caffeine.

Safe
Caffeine Not too much

Lemongrass

Safe in food, unsafe in medicinal or concentrated forms.

Source
Careful
Not medicinally Not too much

Mastic

As a gum, mastic is used widely in Mediterranean dishes and desserts (including Turkish Delight). It is also used as a chewing gum. Avoid the leaf, especially in the first trimester.
Source
Careful
Not too much

Matcha

Matcha is finely ground tea leaves, and contains caffeine. It can be added to many dishes for flavouring or colouring.

Careful
Caffeine Not too much

Moonfish (Opah, Cusk)

Only eat this once a fortnight to prevent a build up of mercury.
Source
Careful
Not too much

Oolong Tea

Source
Careful
Caffeine Not too much

Pepsi

Be careful with all varieties, including diet versions.

Source
Careful
Not too much Caffeine

Pilchard

Pilchards are classed as oily (and may contain chemical pollutants) and you shouldn't eat more than two portions a week if you're pregnant.
Source
Careful
Not too much

Potato

Too much potato consumption during pregnancy has been linked to diabetes.
Source
Safe
Not too much

Salmon

All varieties of salmon (in all preparations - i.e. smoked, canned, fresh) are considered low in mercury. However, because they are oily, pregnant women shouldn't consume more than two portions per week to avoid a build up of pollutants.
Careful
Not too much

Sanddab

Do not have more than two or three times a week.
Source
Careful
Not too much

Sardine

Due to their oily nature, sardines can contain other pollutants. Sardines are fine to consume while pregnant, but don't have more than two portions a week.
Source
Careful
Not too much

Sea Bass

Don't have this fish more than twice a week as they can contain similar pollutants to oily fish. Infrequent consumption is perfectly fine.
Source
Safe
Not too much

Sichuan (Szechuan) Pepper

Safe
Not too much

Snapper

Snapper may contain moderate levels of mercury. It's best avoided, but a few small portions a month should be fine.
Careful
Not too much

Sorrel

Contains oxalic acid, which is harmful in large quantities.

Careful
Not medicinally Not too much

Sprat

Sprats are oily and should therefore only be eaten (at most) twice a week to avoid build-ups of potentially harmful contaminants.
Careful
Not too much

Sturgeon

Limit consumption to two portions per week to avoid potentially harmful levels of pollutants.
Source
Careful
Not too much

Trout

This oily fish should not be consumed more than twice a week.
Source
Careful
Not too much

Tuna (Albacore, Yellowfin, Bigeye, Skipjack, Bluefin)

Tuna can contain high levels of mercury and when it's fresh it is also considered oily. Don't eat more than two medium-sized portions of fresh tuna (or more than four cans of canned tuna) a week.
Source
Careful
Not too much

Turbot

Don't eat more than two portions a week because it could have similar levels of pollutants as oily fish.
Source
Careful
Not too much

Wahoo

No more than once every two weeks.
Source
Careful
Not too much

White Tea

Source
Careful
Caffeine Not too much

Whitebait

Don't eat this oily fish more than twice a week.
Careful
Not too much

Yellow Tea

Source
Careful
Caffeine Not too much