Information provided by:
Association of Women s Health,
Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
(AWHONN)
International Food Information
Council (IFIC) Foundation
U. S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA)
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Safe Food Handling for a Healthy Pregnancy
PDF version, best for printing* |
When you're expecting, it's
natural to be concerned about
your health and that of your
unborn baby. Maintaining a
healthful diet, drinking plenty
of liquids, and taking prenatal
vitamins are all important for
the health of the expectant
mother and her baby. Food
safety is also very important.
This information will help
you make safe decisions when
selecting and preparing food
for yourself and/or your family.
Sometimes, what we eat can make us sick. Food contaminated by harmful bacteria can cause serious illness. One type of bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes ( pronounced lis-TIR-ee-ya mon-o-si-TAH-gin-eez) , can cause an illness called listeriosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) estimates that 2,500 people become seriously ill with listeriosis each year in the United States. Of these, one in five die from the disease. Listeriosis can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn babies. Foodborne illness caused by Listeria in pregnant women can result in premature delivery, miscarriage, fetal death, and severe illness or death of a newborn from the infection.
Listeria is a type of bacteria found everywhere in soil and ground water and on plants. Animals and people can carry Listeria in their bodies without becoming sick. Despite being so widespread, most infections in humans result from eating contaminated foods.
Most people are not at increased risk for listeriosis. However, there are some people who are considered at risk because they are more susceptible to listeriosis. In addition to pregnant women and their unborn babies and newborns, other at-risk groups include older adults and people with weakened immune systems caused by cancer treatments, AIDS, diabetes, kidney disease, etc. By carefully following food safety precautions, persons at risk for listeriosis can substantially reduce their chances of becoming ill.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy have an effect on the mother s immune system that lead to an increased susceptibility to listeriosis in the mother. According to the CDC, pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. In fact, about one-third of listeriosis cases happen during pregnancy. Listeriosis can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta even if the mother is not showing signs of illness. This can lead to premature delivery, miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious health problems for her newborn.
While there is a theoretical possibility that Listeria monocytogenes could be transmitted via mother's milk, this has never been proven.
Because the symptoms of listeriosis can take a few days or even weeks to appear and can be mild, you may not even know you have it. This is why it's very important to take appropriate food safety precautions during pregnancy.
In pregnant women, listeriosis may cause flu-like symptoms with the sudden onset of fever, chills, muscle aches, and sometimes diarrhea or upset stomach. The severity of the symptoms may vary. If the infection spreads to the nervous system, the symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions. Consult your doctor or healthcare provider if you have these symptoms. A blood test can be performed to find out if your symptoms are caused by listeriosis.
During pregnancy, antibiotics are given to treat listeriosis in the mother. In most cases, the antibiotics also prevent infection of the fetus or newborn. Antibiotics are also given to babies who are born with listeriosis.
What steps can I take to prevent listeriosis?
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provide the following advice for pregnant women and all at-risk consumers: :
Because Listeria can grow at refrigeration temperatures of 40 şF or below, FSIS and FDA advise all consumers to:
If you have eaten a contaminated product and do not have any symptoms, most experts believe you don t need any tests or treatment, even if you are pregnant. However, you should inform your physician or healthcare provider if you are pregnant and have eaten the contaminated product, and within 2 months experience flu-like symptoms.
It's important to learn how to protect yourself and your unborn baby from foodborne illnesses. Getting in the habit of eating a safe and nutritious diet not only benefits your baby, but will also give you peace of mind.
Remember - new information on food safety is constantly emerging. Recommendations and precautions are updated as scientists learn more about preventing foodborne illness. You need to be aware of and follow the most current information on food safety. Consult your healthcare provider if you have questions.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-800/535-4555
(in Washington, DC area 202/ 720-3333)
TTY: 1-800/ 256-7072
www.fsis.usda.gov
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention/Foodborne Illness
Line (24 hr recorded information)
1-888/232-3228
www.cdc.gov/foodsafety
U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition
1-888-SAFEFOOD
www.cfsan.fda.gov
Gateway to Government Food
Safety Information:
www.foodsafety.gov
Partnership for Food Safety
Education
www.fightbac.org
International Food Information
Council ( IFIC) Foundation
http://ific.org
This brochure is developed in
collaboration with the Association
of Women's Health, Obstetric
and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). |
|
U. S. Department of Health
and Human Services |
|
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention |
|
Food and Drug
Administration |
|
U. S. Department
of Agriculture
Food Safety and
Inspection Service |
|
International Food
Information Council
( IFIC) Foundation |
When preparing meals for yourself and/ or your family, it is important to remember these four basic guidelines to help keep your food safe from harmful bacteria.
1. Clean
Wash hands and
surfaces often
2. Separate
Don't allow cross-contamination between
raw and cooked foods
3. Cook
Cook to proper
temperatures use a
food thermometer
4. Chill
Refrigerate or
freeze promptly
September 2001
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For Further Information Contact:
FSIS Food Safety Education Staff
Meat and Poultry Hotline:
Consumer Publications List | FSIS Home Page | USDA Home Page