Food safety for pregnant women

Pregnancy can be one of the most exciting times in your life. Following a healthy diet is

an important way to make sure that you and your baby are getting the nutrients that you need.

However, because of all the changes taking place in your body, both you and your unborn baby are at an increased risk for food poisoning (also known as food-related illness or foodborne illness). This includes your immune system being weakened, which can make it more difficult to fight off infections.

While the food we eat in Canada is among the safest in the world, some food can be contaminated by bacteria, viruses, and parasites (food borne pathogens). Protect yourself and your baby by following some simple rules.

Health risks

Some people can get food poisoning and not even know they have it. Food poisoning is caused by eating foods that are contaminated.

Certain bacteria, viruses or parasites can cross the placenta and increase the chance your baby may become infected. Your unborn baby's immune system is not developed enough to fight off harmful bacteria. For you, the mother, food poisoning can cause symptoms that include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• fever
• chills
• headaches
• body aches

Did you know?

Pregnant women are 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to develop Listerine if they are exposed to the Listeria bacteria.

Food borne bacteria can be even more dangerous for your baby's health. If you develop food poisoning during the first three months of pregnancy, it can cause a miscarriage. Later on in the pregnancy, your baby could be delivered prematurely. Food borne illness can also cause a stillbirth or a baby who is born severely ill. Since your baby is dependent on you for all its needs, it is extremely important that you pay close attention to what you eat and apply the following food safety steps.

Safety tips

It is important to separate your raw meat, poultry, fish, and seafood from other food in your grocery cart and in your refrigerator. This is to make sure that you are not cross-contaminating your food.

Heat and proper cooking can kill bacteria, but people often eat raw fruits and vegetables. Because they are not heated or cooked, raw fruits and vegetables that have been contaminated by raw meat, poultry, fish, and seafood may contain bacteria that can be harmful to you.

Shopping

• Buy cold or frozen food at the end of your shopping trip.
• Check the "best before" date on your food.
• Keep your raw meat, poultry, fish, and seafood away from other food in your grocery cart.
• Examine fruits and vegetables carefully and avoid buying items that are bruised or damaged.
• If you use reusable grocery bags or bins, make sure to use a specific bag or bin for meat, poultry or seafood. Label the bag or bin with the type of food it carries.

http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/eating-nutrition/safety-salubrite/pregnant-enceintes-eng.php?utm_source=Facebook_HCdns&utm_medium=social&utm_content=Nov13_PregnantNoSushi_ENG&utm_campaign=social_media_13

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