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Alfalfa sprouts and any other sprouts such as broccoli, onion, sunflower, clover, radish, snowpea, mung and soybean sprouts are NOT safe to eat raw during pregnancy.
Raw alfalfa (and other) sprouts have been linked to cases of E. coli, salmonella and listeria says the Food and Drug Administration. During pregnancy your immune system is weakened so it is important to avoid these risks all together as you can be more susceptible to infection.
Sprouts are a high risk group and if you feel able to avoid them, I recommend you do! This is because, even when cooked well, it can’t be guaranteed that all harmful bacteria on the sprouts will be destroyed.
Top Tips for Safely Consuming Rocket Whilst Pregnant:
- Buy fresh sprouts that have been refrigerated well (keep them refrigerated).
- Even if you are growing the sprouts yourself, these are not safe to consume raw- wash and cook all sprouts thoroughly.
- Wash well with cool, high pressure water.
- Do not buy sprouts that do not smell fresh or are slimy to touch.
- Cook THOROUGHLY, until steaming!
- Do not consume any salads, stirfrys or sandwiches that contain any sprouts as you can’t be certain they are cooked well. In fact most of the time, these sprouts are raw or just lightly cooked.
Alfalfa FAQs:
Can I Drink Alfalfa Tea While Pregnant?
This is a controversial one. Alfalfa sprouts have many health benefits, one being the high amounts of vitamin K. This could be a helpful tea to drink towards the end of your pregnancy as it can prepare your body for the blood loss that follows birth.
However as the American Pregnancy Association suggests, this tea is likely to be unsafe to consume.
Can I Take Alfalfa Supplements While Pregnant?
I always recommend you speak to your healthcare provider before starting any supplementation during pregnancy especially with uncertain foods such as alfalfa.
However, whilst doing my research I came across the wonderful company MotherLove who have 30 years experience with herbs and plants and how they can be used to support women through pregnancy and postpartum.
They state that drinking mild tasting alfalfa tea or taking alfalfa tablets during the last trimester of pregnancy can decrease postpartum bleeding or chance of haemorrhaging. Alfalfa can also increases breast milk production.
So, if you chat to your healthcare provider and they feel it is safe for you to consume alfalfa tea/supplements then now you know the benefits are pretty cool!
What Do I Do If I have Accidentally Eaten Raw Alfalfa Sprouts?
Don’t panic. Chances are, you will be absolutely fine!
However, it is important that if you start feeling unwell, are experiencing fevers, headaches, vomiting/diarrhoea, abdominal pain or any reduced fetal movements to call your healthcare provider or hospital as soon as you are concerned.
I also advise that if you are ever worried or need reassurance during your pregnancy,, feel free to contact your midwife. It is her job to guide and reassure you where you need.
Ps- You may not be the right audience for this, however I feel like it is important to mention- for any of you out there who are on contraception: consuming alfalfa can interfere with the effectiveness of you estrogen based birth control.
Other Foods to Avoid During Your Pregnancy:
General food preparation is an important step in keeping you well. Keep your hands and surfaces clean and wash all your foods thoroughly, especially fruit and vegetables. Always make sure your food is well cooked to ensure any bugs have been killed off with the heat.
Avoid these foods when pregnant:
1. Foods that are made with unpasteurised milk to avoid listeriosis. Such foods consist of:
- Mould ripended cheeses and soft blue cheeses
- Unpasteurized milk/cream/yogurt
2. Cold cured meats and raw/under cooked meats to avoid toxoplasmosis:
- Liver or liver products
- All kinds of pate
- Prosciutto/pancetta
3. Goose, partridge/pheasant to avoid the risk of lead poisoning
4. Eggs that aren’t British Lion eggs – eggs that are raw or partially cooked can increase your risk of catching salmonella
5. Raw/smoked shellfish/fish to avoid parasites/bacteria. Specifics to note:
- No more than 2 servings of oily fish a week
- Keep a limit on your tuna consumption (4 tins or 2 tuna steaks a week at most)
- Avoid sushi with raw fish/ sashimi
- Avoid swordfish/marlin and shark due to the mercury levels
6. Liquorice root due to the high levels of glycyrrhizin which has been linked to fetal developmental issues
7. Consume no more than 200mg of caffeine a day (Tommy’s website has a great caffeine calculator to help you understand how much caffeine is too much)
8. No more than 4 cups of herbal tea a day (raspberry leaf tea from 32 weeks only)
9. No high dose vitamins or vitamins that include vitamin A. I would stick to pregnancy approved vitamins and always check with your midwife/doctor before taking any.
10. Avoid alcohol, completely. If you require help with this (or quitting smoking) please contact your midwife or GP and they will be able to support you to get help in stopping.
Safe and happy eating,
Lucy x
