Eating Out
The safest food is usually food you've prepared yourself, but
the chances are you can't avoid eating out for the entire duration
of your pregnancy, so how do you choose safe foods? Here are some
simple tips:
*No sushi! Sushi is a big no-no, not only
because it often contains raw fish or cold chicken, but also
because rice harbors a large number of bacteria rendering it
unsafe.
*Avoid pre-prepared foods such as sandwiches
and filled rolls. If you are buying lunch from a bakery or café,
choose a pie or plain bread roll as a safer alternative.
*Piping hot is okay. Café-style foods such as
Panini and toasted sandwiches are safe as long as they are reheated
until piping hot. Always check the middle of your Panini or toasted
sandwich as quite often the outside might appear piping hot whilst
the inside is only luke warm. Ask to have it popped back in the
sandwich press for a few minutes more.
*No eggs benedict! Sauces such as hollandaise
sauce which are made with lightly cooked eggs and then kept
slightly warm are a breeding ground for bacteria, and whilst those
runny poached eggs might not be a listeria risk, they do pose a
risk of salmonella, another potentially nasty food borne
illness.
*Cake is okay, cream not so much! Once a
container of cream, sour cream or cream cheese has been opened, it
can potentially start growing bacteria, so unless you are confident
that it has only just been opened, it's best to enjoy your cake
without that side of cream. The same goes for cream donuts and buns
from the bakery, cakes with cream cheese icing and cheesecakes.
*Fresh is best. Where possible, avoid foods
that have been pre-prepared and then stored in bains-marie, for
example in food courts or buffet restaurants.
*Check out the hygiene rating. Your local
district council visits all premises where food is prepared and
sold and gives them a hygiene rating, usually on a scale from A
(excellent) to F (poor). This rating must be displayed so as to be
easily visible to customers. Where possible, choose only
establishments which have an A rating.
And if in doubt? Don't eat it! It's not worth the risk!