Takeaways

Eating takeaways during pregnancy is fine in moderation, but it is worth thinking through what you are ordering and from where. The key considerations are: food hygiene at the outlet, whether meat is cooked through, and whether any ingredients fall into the categories to avoid during pregnancy. For most mainstream takeaways — pizza, fish and chips, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Turkish kebabs — the food is thoroughly cooked and poses no greater risk than a restaurant meal. The same rules that apply to food generally still apply: meat should be well-done with no pink, burgers should be cooked all the way through, and sauces should be freshly made. Sushi takeaways carry the same considerations as sushi in general — cooked or vegetarian rolls are safe; rolls containing raw fish should be avoided (see the sushi and raw fish guidance for more detail). Doner or shawarma meat is usually safe as it is cooked on a rotating spit, but ask that it is cut from the hot outer layer rather than the centre. Soft-serve ice cream from some takeaways may carry Listeria risk if the machines are not cleaned regularly — this is more of a concern with soft-serve machines than with factory-packaged ice cream. Caesar salad and coleslaw from takeaways are generally safe as they use commercial dressings. Avoid takeaway dishes with raw or lightly cured fish, raw shellfish, or visible pink meat.