Safe Food Handling for Successful Pregnancy Outcomes

Abstract

Pregnancy is one of the vital phases of a woman's life during which hormonal changes such as increased progesterone levels downregulate immune function to prevent the death of the fetus. These hormonal changes make pregnant women vulnerable to food-borne illnesses by microbial pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii, Salmonella, and others) and chemical contaminants (methyl mercury from seafood). Subsequent illnesses may lead to serious health consequences such as miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or serious infection of the newborn, neonatal sepsis, chorioamnionitis, meningitis, mental retardation, and harsh neurological effects for the fetus, mother, and/or the newborn.