What Foods Should I Avoid During Pregnancy?
Avoid raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs; high-mercury fish; unpasteurised milk and soft mould-ripened cheeses; deli meats unless heated; alcohol; excess caffeine; and unwashed produce. Our full guide has the details and safer swaps.
Quick avoid list
- Raw/undercooked meat, poultry, fish and eggs
- High-mercury fish (shark, swordfish); limit tuna
- Unpasteurised milk and soft/blue cheeses
- Deli meats and pâté unless heated
- Alcohol — best avoided entirely
- Excess caffeine (keep under ~200 mg/day)
- Unwashed fruit and vegetables
Why avoid these
They raise the risk of infections like listeria, salmonella and toxoplasmosis, or of harm from mercury or alcohol.
See the full guide
For safer swaps and detailed reasons, read our complete Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy guide.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main foods to avoid?
Raw/undercooked animal foods, high-mercury fish, unpasteurised dairy, soft cheeses, alcohol and excess caffeine.
Why avoid these foods?
They carry a higher risk of foodborne infection or harm to your baby.
Where can I see the full list?
Our detailed Foods to Avoid guide covers everything with safer swaps.
Eat well through every week 💜
See trimester-by-trimester nutrition in the complete 40-week guide.
40-Week GuideJoin The Circle