There are two infections that can spread via food and that are especially important to know about during pregnancy—listeria and toxoplasmosis. There is a very slim risk of contracting them but, if you get infected, the infections can, in a worst-case scenario, cause a miscarriage or harm the fetus. But this is very uncommon.
Listeria and toxoplasma parasites die when food is well-cooked. Toxoplasma parasites also die if food is frozen for three days. Listeria, on the other hand, survives freezing.
Below is advice on how to further reduce the risk of contracting listeria and toxoplasmosis.
Listeria
All food that is well-cooked is safe to eat. Listeria dies when food is heated to at least 70℃ (158°F).
If you want to eat refrigerated processed food without heating the food, the following can help to reduce the risk of getting sick:
- The refrigerator: Store refrigerated items cold, at +4°C (+39°F) in the refrigerator.
- Sliced cold cuts: Always check the packaging date. Consume products that have been packaged for no more than one week.
- Thawed frozen vegetables: Store in the refrigerator. Consume within a few days.
- Sliced melon: Store in the refrigerator. Consume the melon within a few days.
Avoid these food items:
- Unpasteurized milk
- Fresh cream cheese made from unpasteurized milk.
- Blue cheeses and washed-rind cheeses. Even cheese made from pasteurized milk, for example brie, gorgonzola, chèvre, vacherol and taleggio.
- Refrigerated pre-packaged mixed salads, sandwiches and sauces that contain smoked/cured fish, blue cheese and washed-rind cheese, or cold cuts.
Eat these food items:
- All hard cheese such as prästost, herrgård, parmesan, gruyère, manchego and Emmenthaler.
- Processed cheese/soft cheese in a tube or carton.
- Pre-packaged halloumi, mozzarella and feta cheese or unpackaged feta cheese that is pasteurized.
- Cheese spreads in cartons such as cream cheese, ricotta and mascarpone.
Toxoplasmosis
The following applies to toxoplasmosis:
- Do not eat raw meat. Thoroughly cook minced meat, poultry, lamb, pork and venison.
- If you want to eat dried, cold-smoked or cured meat, such as parma ham or salami, freeze for three days before eating.
- Wash your hands before you start cooking, between handling different ingredients, and after working in the garden. Wash the chopping board and all utensils between handling different ingredients.
- Wash fruits and vegetables.
Toxoplasma parasites can also spread through cat feces. The National Veterinary Institute has more information.
Information from the Swedish National Food Agency