NZFSA announces the latest food safety booklet for pregnant women

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has published a revised version of its most popular booklet, 'Food safety in pregnancy'.

Nearly 70,000 copies are distributed annually, primarily through lead maternity caregivers, medical centres and other groups working with pregnant women. Virtually all expectant mums in New Zealand receive this practical information designed to help keep mothers and babies safe from foodborne illness through this vulnerable time.

This is the fourth time the booklet has been revised since it was first published in 2003. It was last revised in December 2007. “We regularly review our publications to ensure the advice we give on various food safety topics is based on the most up-to-date information and the current best practice,” Principal Adviser (Public Health) Dr Donald Campbell says.

Although the new booklet carries much of the same advice and tips as the previous version, the revision contains stronger messages about the unsuitability of raw milk products for pregnant women and updated advice on higher risk foods such as processed meats and soft cheeses.

Expectant mothers are more vulnerable consumers because their immune systems are lowered during pregnancy, Dr Campbell explains. They are more at risk of falling ill with foodborne illness and the illness is likely to be more severe. “The advice in the booklet is tailored to mums-to-be so they learn about higher risk foods that have greater potential to make them sick and also possibly affect their unborn baby. It also emphasises the importance of having clean hands when dealing with food and sticking to our clean, cook, cover, chill advice.”

Dr Campbell says many women find eating in pregnancy difficult because of morning sickness and he says it is important that NZFSA advises women not to eat certain foods only when there are clear scientific reasons to do so. “We don’t want to make eating during pregnancy harder than it has to be,” he says.
To order a copy of 'Food safety in pregnancy' at no charge, call the consumer helpline on 0800 693 721 (0800 NZFSA1). Alternatively, you can download a PDF version of the publication from our website at www.nzfsa.govt.nz/publications/publications-all-booklets-a-z.htm.