Important Medical Information for All New or Prospective Parents

FDA Dietary Precautions

In January 2001, the Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory to pregnant women to avoid consumption of large predatory fish, including swordfish, shark, mackerel or tilefish, due to concerns related to mercury poisoning. Tuna was later added to the advisory. Mercury consumption, over time, can cause delayed neurologic development in children. 

If you’ve eaten one of these fish recently, don’t worry. It’s felt that only regular consumption of affected fish could put you at risk. Deep-water fish are much less likely to be contaminated by mercury. Certainly fish and the omega 3 fatty acids that fish oils contain are healthy and thought to help early brain development. Taking an omega 3 fatty acid supplement during pregnancy is always a good idea.

In the same advisory, the FDA advised that pregnant women also avoid soft moist cheeses such as brie, blue cheese or feta cheese and ready to eat meats due to the risks of listeria. Listeria is a bacteria that can cause uterine infections and miscarriages. Listeria outbreaks generally occur in clusters, due to poor sanitary precautions in the processing, packaging and storing of these products before they reach your grocer. Again, if you’ve eaten these products recently and did not get sick, you should not worry.

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