Can I Eat Homemade Caesar dressing, raw cookie dough, homemade eggnog, hollandaise While Pregnant?
Best to avoidGeneral guidance from CDC. Please always check with your provider.
You do not have to give up these treats entirely during pregnancy, because there are safe swaps that let you enjoy them.
Why
Homemade Caesar dressing, raw cookie dough, homemade eggnog, and hollandaise all share one risk in common, which is uncooked egg. Per the CDC, raw egg can carry salmonella, a bacteria that causes fever, cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea, and dehydration during pregnancy can stress both you and your baby. Because these foods are not cooked to a safe temperature, the egg stays raw and the bacteria can survive.
How to enjoy it safely
Choose versions made with pasteurized eggs or pasteurized egg products, which are safe to eat uncooked. Many store bought Caesar dressings, eggnogs, and cookie doughs are labeled safe to eat or made with pasteurized egg, and edible cookie dough made without raw egg or raw flour is a good option.
When to ask your provider
Ask your Garden OB/GYN provider if you are unsure whether a packaged product is pasteurized or safe to eat raw.
More foods that are best to avoid
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. It summarizes guidance from CDC, which can change, and individual situations vary, so please confirm with your Garden OB/GYN provider.
Questions about your pregnancy diet?
Our providers across Brooklyn, NYC, and Long Island are happy to help you eat well and worry less.
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