See ya, sushi! Raw fish is a nasty breeding ground for salmonella and other bacteria. No matter how sanitary your favorite sushi place is, it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to undercooked or raw protein. The same goes for red meat. Even though you may like your steak still mooing, cook it at least to medium-well.
Scrambled, not sunny side up! Raw eggs are another potential pitfall of bacteria that can be harmless unless you’re pregnant. Caesar dressing, hollandaise sauce and some pastry creams can contain egg yolks that are not fully cooked. Avoid raw egg yolk for the duration of your pregnancy.
Pasteurized only, please! Only drink milk and juice that has been pasteurized. The pasteurization process gently heats the liquids to a point where most of the lurking bacteria have been safely killed off. Many juices, however, are not pasteurized, especially if they are freshly squeezed. Cheeses such as brie, Camembert, feta and some blue cheeses are not pasteurized and they present an equal hazard.
Limit your morning java! Caffeine is the hazardous culprit. Watch for it in other beverages and treats as well including some sodas, chocolate, ginseng tea and other leaf teas, coffee-flavored desserts and hot chocolate. Is any amount of caffeine safe? Read our caffeine primer.