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Eating for two—the
safe way
Women crave different foods during pregnancy,
but a Purdue expert says a new program teaches expectant
mothers to be cautious about what they eat while caring for
two.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium
that can cause a pregnant woman and her baby to become ill
when contaminated foods are eaten, says Donna Vandergraff,
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program coordinator.
The bacterium is found in soil, ground water, poultry and
seafood and on produce. It also can be in foods such as deli
meats, hot dogs, soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk and meat
spreads.
A new Purdue Extension program, "Safe Food
and You," is educating women about listeriosis and the importance
of food safety during pregnancy. The program teaches mothers-to-be
about the risk of listeriosis and what can be done to prevent
food-borne illness.
"Listeriosis can occur any time during pregnancy
and can be a threat to the health of a mother and her baby," Vandergraff
says. "During pregnancy, women are more prone to infection
because of hormonal changes, and listeriosis can lead to
miscarriage and preterm labor." |
