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Can I eat lettuce while pregnant?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Doola Scan shows Check for lettuce in all six countries: the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland all ask you to wash raw vegetables and salad before eating. The FDA names lettuce in its list of unwashed vegetables to avoid, and the NHS says soil can carry bacteria that may make you unwell. Iceberg, romaine and bagged salad leaves get the same Check. Where countries differ is ready-made salads from a shop or salad bar: the NHS asks you to keep them chilled and eat them before the use-by date, while the CDC advises against premade deli salads, and FSANZ, NSW Food Authority and Health NZ against pre-prepared or pre-packaged salads.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Whole lettuce: iceberg, romaine, butterhead

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Bagged lettuce and mixed salad leaves

    CheckIn all six countries
Doola Scan checking a plate
What each country says

Lettuce while pregnant: what each country says.

Each country's own pregnancy guidance on lettuce, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.

  • United States

    Check
    • FDAAvoid unwashed fresh vegetables, including lettuce and salads.Source
    Ready-made salads from a shop, deli or salad bar
    • CDCAvoid premade deli salads such as coleslaw, potato, tuna or chicken salad; homemade is the safer choice.Source
    • FDAAvoid deli salads made on site without preservatives (ham, chicken, seafood salad).Source

  • United Kingdom

    Check
    • NHSSoil on produce can carry bacteria and toxoplasma.Source
    Ready-made salads from a shop, deli or salad bar
    • NHSLow risk, but ready-to-eat chilled foods may contain listeria.Source

  • Canada

    Check
    • Health CanadaRinse delicate produce under cool running water; scrub firm produce.Source

  • Australia

    Check
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Wash fruit, vegetables and herbs to remove soil (toxoplasma).Source
    Ready-made salads from a shop, deli or salad bar
    • Better Health Channel (Victoria)Avoid pre-prepared salads and other cold foods that will not be reheated.Source
    • FSANZAvoid pre-prepared/pre-packaged fruit or vegetable salads incl. buffets and salad bars; eat freshly prepared.Source
    • NSW Food AuthorityDo not eat pre-prepared or pre-packaged salads, sandwiches or wraps.Source
    • NSW HealthDo not eat pre-packed cold salads, including coleslaw.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Avoid pre-prepared or pre-packaged salads, and cold meats from sandwich bars.Source

  • New Zealand

    Check
    • Health NZWash and dry all fresh fruit and vegetables well just before eating.Source
    Ready-made salads from a shop, deli or salad bar
    • Health NZAvoid pre-prepared or pre-packaged fruit or vegetable salads incl. buffets and salad bars.Source

  • Ireland

    Check
    • HSEWash all fruit, vegetables and pre-packed salads before eating.Source
What to check

Before you eat lettuce.

  1. Rinse lettuce under running water

    Pull the leaves apart and rinse them under running water, then dry them with a clean cloth or paper towel. The FDA says not to wash produce with soap, detergent or commercial produce wash. Health NZ asks you to wash and dry fresh vegetables just before eating. FDA

  2. Wash bagged salad too, if you're in Ireland

    Ireland's HSE asks you to wash all fruit, vegetables and pre-packed salads before eating. The FDA says many bagged produce items are pre-washed and ready to eat, so in the US the label tells you whether they need washing. HSE

  3. Keep lettuce in the fridge

    The FDA asks you to store lettuce in a clean fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below, and to refrigerate any produce bought pre-cut or packaged. Cut away damaged or bruised leaves before eating. FDA

  4. Make salads fresh rather than buying them ready-made

    FSANZ asks pregnant women to avoid pre-prepared or pre-packaged vegetable salads, including from buffets and salad bars, and to eat salads freshly prepared. In the UK, the NHS says pre-packaged salads are low risk if kept chilled and eaten before the use-by date. FSANZ

Questions

About lettuce
in pregnancy.

Doola Scan shows Check for lettuce in all six countries, because each one asks you to wash raw vegetables and salad first. The FDA lists unwashed fresh vegetables, including lettuce, among foods to avoid, and the NHS says to wash salad vegetables like lettuce thoroughly before eating.

Iceberg gets the same Check as any lettuce: wash the leaves under running water before eating. The guidance in these six countries doesn't treat one type of lettuce differently from another.

The guidance differs. Ireland's HSE asks you to wash pre-packed salads before eating, while the FDA says many bagged items are pre-washed and ready to eat. FSANZ, NSW Food Authority and Health NZ advise against pre-prepared or pre-packaged salads, and the NHS says keep them chilled and eat them before the use-by date.

The CDC lists premade deli salads among the foods to avoid, and Health NZ and FSANZ name salads from buffets and salad bars. Doola Scan shows Avoid for ready-made salads in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, and Check in the UK, where the NHS asks you to keep them chilled.

Separate the leaves and rinse them under running water, then dry them with a clean towel. The FDA says not to use soap or produce wash, and to cut away damaged or bruised parts.

The NHS asks for at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day in pregnancy, and says they provide fibre, which helps digestion and can help prevent constipation. It doesn't single out lettuce.

The guidance doesn't change by trimester. Washing raw salad applies from the first weeks of pregnancy to the last.

Lettuce gets Check in Doola Scan in all six countries: wash it well under running water before eating, because soil can carry bacteria and toxoplasma. Ready-made salads from a shop or salad bar get Avoid in most of these countries.

Doola Scan muestra Check para la lechuga en los seis países: hay que lavarla bien con agua corriente antes de comerla. Las ensaladas ya preparadas de tienda o de bufé tienen Avoid en la mayoría de estos países.

Yes. Take a photo of the plate, the menu or the label, and Doola Scan checks every ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance. Food scans are free, 3 a day.
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Point Doola at a plate, a menu or a label. It checks every ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance and shows its sources. Food scans are free, 3 a day.

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Doola shows what official guidance says; it never diagnoses. No known issues means none of these countries' pregnancy guidance names it, not a promise that a food is safe.