While millions of people suffer from foodborne illnesses every day, these illnesses usually do not have long-term or severe symptoms. However, those people with weaker immune systems, such as little children, older adults, people with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women, are more at risk of foodborne illnesses.
Illnesses like food poisoning can have severe health risks affecting both the mother and the baby. Pregnant women, in particular, have weaker immune systems and are more susceptible to getting sick than they usually would be. In some cases, foodborne illnesses can even result in birth complications, miscarriages, or stillbirths.
To prevent any such health risks, pregnant women should be more careful about the food they eat and how safely their food is prepared. Here are some food safety tips to keep in mind:
Keep up your personal hygiene: Before and after handling food, after using the restroom, and after being out in public, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water while paying extra attention to your nails.
Keep your kitchens and cooking utensils clean: Kitchen surfaces like countertops and cutting boards should be wiped down before and after food preparation. Different utensils should be used for different foods.
Clean all produce well: Fruits and vegetables should be washed, scrubbed, and dried properly to remove harmful bacteria, dirt, and germs. Raw chicken should not be washed in the kitchen.
Separate food: Uncooked food should be prepared separately from cooked or ready-to-eat food to avoid cross-contamination. You should also store cooked and raw food separately.
Cook food to the right temperature: When food reaches a specific internal temperature, the germs and bacteria that make you sick are killed, and the food is safe to consume. Ensure that you cook all of your food to the right temperature.
Avoid eating certain foods: Raw or unpasteurized juices can cause listeria, spreading to the baby and placenta. Foods containing tahini, raw sprouts and eggs, unpasteurized dairy, and oysters are amongst other foods that should be avoided.
If you’re interested in learning more about food safety, you can take online food safety courses. The Australian Institute of Accreditation offers great online food safety supervisor courses that can teach you more about the importance of food safety and how to handle food to avoid foodborne illnesses.
