safety of tuna from March of Dimes

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What you need to know:

Not all foods are safe for pregnant women. Some contain high levels

of chemicals that can affect your baby's development. Others put you

at risk for getting an infection that can hurt your baby.

What you can do:

Use common sense when preparing and selecting foods. Avoid the

following:

Swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tile fish. These fish can contain

potentially risky levels of mercury. Mercury can be transferred to

the growing fetus and cause serious health problems.

An expert panel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has advised

pregnant women to eat no more than 12 ounces of canned tuna per week.

Also avoid eating any game fish without first checking its safety

with your local health department.

Raw fish, especially shellfish (oysters, clams)

Undercooked meat, poultry, seafood and hot dogs. Cook all meat,

poultry and seafood thoroughly to kill bacteria. Cook hot dogs until

they are steaming hot. Deli meats (such as ham, salami, and bologna)

are an occasional cause of food poisoning; pregnant women may choose

to avoid them or reheat them before eating.

Soft-scrambled eggs and all foods made with raw or lightly cooked

eggs

Soft cheeses such as Brie, feta, Camembert, Roquefort and Mexican-

style, unless they are labeled as made with pasturized milk

Unpasteurized milk and any foods made from it

Unpasteurized juices

Raw sprouts, especially alfalfa sprouts

Herbal supplements and teas

Some studies indicate that your baby may be at increased risk of

developing a food allergy in later life if you, your partner or a

family member has a food allergy. You may wish to consult a food

allergy specialist for help in planning your diet during pregnancy

and breastfeeding.