Avoiding danger

About foodborne illnesses during pregnancy. —

Unborn babies are at greater risk of dying from a food infection than the average New Zealander, which is why avoiding certain foods is recommended.

Some foodborne illnesses, such as listeria and Toxoplasma gondii, can infect the foetus even if the mother does not feel sick.

If a pregnant woman gets a food infection, it can lead to miscarriage, preterm delivery or stillbirth.

While a baby dying from a food infection is not common, experts say it is preventable if pregnant women stick to New Zealand Food Safety in Pregnancy guidelines.

There is limited research available in New Zealand about how many babies die from food infections; between 1997 and 2016, there were 147 pregnancyassociated cases of listeriosis in New Zealand.