When expecting a baby, food safety is a big concern, and you may be wondering, can you eat Banoffee Pie when pregnant?
Does it contain any ingredients that have bacteria and might put your baby at risk?
Dairy food can often be an issue when pregnant, and of course, Banoffee Pie typically calls for the use of condensed milk.
What precautions can you take when making your own Banoffee Pie?
And what about the bananas themselves, could they contain any harmful parasites?
Follow me and discover the true risks of eating Banoffee Pie.
There is actually very little risk of health problems if eating Banoffee Pie when pregnant. Eggs offer the greatest risk when pregnant, but they are not typically used in Banoffee Pie. Dairy products can cause listeriosis, but as Banoffee Pie is made using condensed milk rather than raw milk, this should not be a problem. The only potential harm could come from the bananas, as some fruits cause toxoplasmosis. However, as a banana is sealed within its own skin, there are unlikely to be any bacteria present. If in doubt, wash the bananas thoroughly before using them. Always consult a healthcare professional with any concerns.
Does Banoffee Pie Pose Any Risk to Pregnant Women?
If Banoffee Pie is one of your favorite desserts, then you may be worried about the risk to your baby’s health if you are pregnant.
After all, dairy foods can cause listeriosis, which is dangerous for an unborn child and can, unfortunately, lead to a miscarriage.
Thankfully, the risk factor is very low because Banoffee Pie is made with condensed milk rather than raw, unpasteurized milk.
Other products that may contain the listeria bacteria include cured meats, smoked fish, and blue-veined cheeses such as Stilton.
Obviously, none of these foods would be present in a Banoffee Pie.
The next concern would be one of the main ingredients, the bananas.
You may be aware that fruit can cause toxoplasmosis, which, again, can cause miscarriage.
The toxoplasma parasite can only be found in cat feces.
So, if somebody has handled a cat and then touched any fruit, the parasite could be transferred to the peel.
However, a banana’s skin completely conceals the fruit inside, so there should be no risk of contracting toxoplasmosis.
Of course, pregnant women should wash the fruit, just to be on the safe side.
Are There Any Desserts That Pregnant Women Should Avoid?
If you have a sweet tooth, then naturally, you will be concerned about what desserts you can eat while pregnant.
Having established that Banoffee Pie is absolutely fine, what desserts should you avoid when pregnant?
The first one may come as a surprise, and that is anything that contains licorice root.
Licorice contains glycyrrhizin, which is a natural sweetener, but unfortunately, it can affect the development of the fetus, particularly as regards cognitive skills.
Realistically, you would need to eat a huge amount, but best avoided to be on the safe side.
You probably know that you shouldn’t eat raw eggs when pregnant as there is a high risk of salmonella.
However, you might not associate raw eggs with desserts, they can be difficult to detect.
Unfortunately, some popular options, such as Tiramisu, lemon meringue pie, and even chocolate mousse, all have hidden raw eggs.
Obviously, if you are making your own desserts, you can control the ingredients.
But if you are pregnant, you need to pay careful attention to shop-bought desserts and restaurant choices.
And don’t forget everybody’s favorite, cookie dough!
That is a definite no-no when you are pregnant!
Six Fruits That You Should Not Eat During Pregnancy
Final Thoughts
There is very little risk from eating Banoffee Pie when pregnant.
It does not include ingredients that would contain harmful bacteria.
Banoffee Pie is made from condensed milk and poses no risk of contracting listeriosis.
However, other desserts should be avoided if they contain raw eggs.
These include meringue, chocolate mousse, and Tiramisu.
If in doubt, just have a lovely banana on its own!
Please contact your health professional if you have any concerns about your diet during pregnancy.
And if you have a craving for bananas because you are expecting a baby, I have written an article that may be of interest!