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Expert Q&A

	By Bridget Swinney, M.S., R.D. General Nutrition Expert Prenatal Nutrition Expert

I am 15 weeks pregnant and ate a Greek salad with feta cheese. Should I be concerned?

There is definitely some risk in eating certain foods while pregnant, because you are more susceptible to illness. And listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn illness as well as cause you to seriously curtail your food and liquid intake. Foods that could contain Listeria include soft white cheeses (especially unpasteurized) like Mexican-style cheese (queso blanco and queso frio), feta, Brie, Camembert and blue-veined cheese like Roquefort. So next time, ask the restaurant to substitute mozzarella or cheddar on your Greek Salad.

Other foods that may contain Listeria are lunchmeats, hot dogs and deli foods. Heat them thoroughly before eating. While you are pregnant, it is wise to following standard safe food practices, because any type of food poisoning poses possible danger to you and your baby. Other tips you can follow to kill Listeria and other bacteria that may be in your food include:

• Wash hands well after using the restroom, changing diapers, blowing your nose, etc. and of course, again before handling food. Most of us don't wash our hands long enough. Try to keep the lather going while singing a verse of "Happy Birthday" to make sure you have adequately gotten the germs and dirt off.
• Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating.
• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Keep raw meat away from food that will be eaten raw, and use separate cutting boards. Wipe up spilled meat juices with a paper towel and follow it with a cleaning with an antibacterial cleaner or weak bleach solution. Keep countertops, refrigerator and tables clean.
• Because many types of food poisoning occur due to improper cooking, make sure to cook your meats thoroughly by using a meat thermometer. Cook to these temperatures: hamburger, pork and fish to 160 degrees F; steak to 170 degrees F and raw poultry to 180 degrees F. Reheat leftovers, deli meats or hot dogs to 165 degrees F or steaming.

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