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Hey! Yes, bay leaves would be safe in normal food/culinary amounts, like infused into a soup. However, I think the distinctsion would be you probably wouldn’t want to eat whole bay leaves because they stay hard, chewy, and sharp, even with cooking. Most recipes do use them whole and then remove the bay leave before serving for this reason.
If you’re specifically looking for a pre-made option, Koia Protein Shake, Forager Project Protein Shake, and Iconic could all be options. If you might be interested in trying a protein powder option, the protein powder note in the library would be a great review!
Hey! I don’t love recommending products with “superfood” blends during pregnancy. These blends often contain ingredients that we just don’t have much pregnancy-specific safety data on when they’re consumed in supplemental or concentrated forms. They can also contain herbs, grasses, sprouts, or other botanicals where we don’t have well-established research for use during pregnancy.
For example, this one contains alfalfa sprout and wheatgrass. Are those safe when dried or ground into a powder and consumed regularly during pregnancy? At what amount and how often? We really don’t have enough research to answer those questions with certainty.
That doesn’t mean these ingredients are known to cause harm. It’s more that we can’t confidently say what amounts have been established as safe or whether there is any benefit to supplementing with them during pregnancy.In the context of this shake, since these ingredients are part of a large blend, the amount of each is likely considerably less than you’d get from taking an individual supplement, but the specific amounts aren’t provided. An occasional shake would not be something I’d be concerned about, but for something you plan to drink regularly throughout pregnancy, I’d personally prefer a protein shake without the added superfood blend.
Hey! I think either way works! This looks like a good pre-made option, though.
Personally, I think the biggest ‘issue’ with natural flavors is transparency. They can be broad, can be a mixture of multiple things, and they don’t have to spell out each individual flavor component. That doesn’t mean harmful, but transparency would be nice!
Hey! Magnesium supplementation is generally regarded as safe during pregnancy when needed, and it’s often used for things like leg cramps, sleep support, or constipation.
I like magnesium glycinate because it tends to be gentler on the stomach and less likely to cause digestive upset.
The “upper limit” for magnesium from supplements is set at 350 mg/day. That said, that upper limit does not include magnesium naturally found in food and research on magnesium for things like sleep, leg cramps, and mood often starts around 300–400 mg/day. It’s also helpful to know that the 350 mg upper limit is based primarily on the risk of GI side effects like diarrhea, rather than being a toxicity cutoff. Serious magnesium toxicity is rare in people with normal kidney function and has generally been associated with much larger doses, such as with magnesium-containing laxatives that provide more than 5,000 mg of magnesium per day.
In short, yes, this would be generally fine during pregnancy.
Hey! I completely understand why it feels that way, especially with several different recalls making the news lately! It’s frustrating.
Unfortunately, we can never make the risk of foodborne illness zero, and recalls can happen with foods we normally consider very safe. My approach during pregnancy is to follow the specific FDA/CDC advisories when an outbreak occurs and do what we can to implement good food-safety practices outside of this. Including thoroughly wash produce, choose whole rather than pre-cut options, keep cut produce refrigerated, and choose restaurants you generally trust when eating out.From there, I think some of it comes down to your personal comfort level. If eating a restaurant salad is going to cause a lot of extra stress, it may not be worth it right now, and cooked vegetables are always another option.
There is always some baseline foodborne illness risk with raw produce because washing reduces contamination but can’t eliminate it completely. I don’t think you need to routinely track down the farm or supplier for every salad you order, but that’s my opinion and comfort level.
For the recent lettuce situation specifically, the current outbreak has been linked to iceberg lettuce. The FDA investigation is technically still ongoing, but the recalled lettuce is past its best-by dates, and FDA says the affected product should no longer be available in stores or restaurants. I don’t see a current outbreak specifically linked to romaine on the FDA or CDC list. Though some of the recalled products from the Cyclospora outbreak were an iceberg/romaine blend.
Hey! I do recommend limiting plastic exposure where possible!
With things like plastics/microplastics and other potential endocrine disruptors, I tend to think about reducing exposure where possible rather than perfection or trying to eliminate every possible source. Also, focusing on supporting overall health with good nutrition, adequate minerals, sleep, movement, etc.
If Factor meals are helping someone get in consistent meals during pregnancy, sound appetizing, and provide protein and other nutrients, that’s definitely a pro!
If you’re using them regularly, an easy option would be to transfer the meal to a glass or ceramic plate/container before heating it.
Hey! Typically, yes! Most commercially produced cheeses and dressings in the U.S. are made with pasteurized dairy, especially those purchased by larger restaurants and chains. As you mentioned, if the blue cheese is baked with the pizza and gets thoroughly hot, that adds another layer of food-safety protection. If you want to be extra cautious, for example, at a smaller local pizza shop, or if it’s crumbled on after baking and not heated, you can always ask the restaurant to confirm that the cheese or dressing is made with pasteurized milk.
Hey! I can’t provide individualized guidance on supplementation in the library forum, since supplement needs can depend on things like labs, health history, overall diet, medications, and other supplements. But I can speak generally on the topic!
Seeing something like 200%, 500%, or even more of the Daily Value doesn’t automatically mean that amount is excessive or approaching toxicity. RDAs are reference values designed to meet the nutrient needs of “nearly all healthy individuals”, while the tolerable upper intake level (UL) is the amount above which the risk of adverse effects may increase. Some nutrients don’t even have an established UL because evidence of adverse effects at higher intakes is lacking.
B12 is a good example. Needed Prenatal Pro contains 200 mcg, which looks very high compared with the pregnancy RDA of 2.6 mcg. However, absorption decreases substantially as supplemental doses increase. The NIH notes that only about 2% is absorbed from a 500 mcg dose and about 1.3% from a 1,000 mcg dose, and no UL has been established for B12. You’ll also see in the B12 note that some available research suggests needs during pregnancy may be higher than the currently established RDA.
The current recommended intake for choline during pregnancy is 450 mg/day, so continuing to include choline-rich foods such as eggs can absolutely still be part of a balanced diet. The UL for choline during pregnancy is 3,500 mg/day.
In general, I wouldn’t be concerned about exceeding upper limits from the prenatal plus a balanced, nutrient-rich diet . Food sources of nutrients are absolutely still encouraged! Where I’d be more mindful is if someone were adding additional individual nutrient supplements on top of the prenatal.
For example, even Vitamin D, since that’s a common one people supplement with. 4,000 IUs is a great starting place, but before adding any more, it’d be great to have labs tested to see if it’s necessary to add more and what amount. Individualization is key!
Hey! Yes, it’d be fine to include in moderation, just like other candies with added sugar. Allulose hasn’t been extensively studied specifically in pregnancy, but it is generally considered safe outside of pregnancy. For some people, allulose can also contribute to gas or bloating, so tolerance can vary.
Hey! Yes, Factor meals would generally be considered safe during pregnancy when they’re stored and reheated properly. I’d reheat them to 165°F (steaming hot throughout), make sure the meals are cold when they arrive and refrigerated promptly, and follow the use-by/storage instructions on the package. If a meal arrives warm or has been sitting out for more than 2 hours, I would recommend not eating/discarding.
For any seafood meals, I’d also just double-check the type of fish and stick with lower-mercury options. I think they generally only have low-mercury options, just good practice to double-check!
At this time, neither cucumber nor dill has been identified as a source in the current Cyclospora outbreak, and there is no recommendation to avoid them. The large outbreak we’ve seen in the US has been linked to iceberg lettuce.
However, there are still a few smaller Cyclospora investigations underway where the food source has not yet been identified, so unfortunately we can’t say there is zero risk and do not know exactly what may come from those investigations. Because of that, the best we can do right now is choose what you feel comfortable with and continue to stay alert for new guidance or updates.
If eating uncooked produce is causing more stress and worry right now, it’s completely reasonable to lean more on cooked fruits and vegetables instead.
Hi! Here’s where we are since the forum conversation on July 14:
The biggest update is that the large multistate Cyclospora outbreak has now been linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. The lettuce was recalled on July 17, and the CDC reports that the best-by dates for the recalled products have now passed, so they should no longer be available in stores or restaurants.
There are still a few other smaller Cyclospora investigations underway where the specific food source has not yet been identified, so unfortunately I can’t say there is zero risk from fresh produce right now. However, there is not currently a recommendation to avoid fresh produce altogether. The CDC continues to recommend thoroughly washing fresh produce under running water and paying attention to updates they put out.
If you want to be more conservative right now with produce, cooking produce is absolutely an option. Things like cooked green beans, roasted or steamed vegetables, soups, etc. Cooking produce to at least 158°F kills Cyclospora.
There’s a full update on the iceberg lettuce outbreak from the FDA here:
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-15-state-outbreak-cyclospora-illnesses-iceberg-lettuce-july-2026And from the CDC here:
https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/07-26/index.htmlThe jalapeños are a separate Salmonella outbreak, and recalls have been issued for affected jalapeños and products containing them as well.
CDC’s current Cyclospora surveillance information is also available here:
https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/php/surveillance/index.html
Hey! Fully cooked seafood, like cooked crab and imitation crab meat, is considered a lower-risk choice during pregnancy compared with raw or undercooked seafood.
You’re right that the FDA does recommend reheating leftovers to 165°F during pregnancy, as well as reheating certain ready-to-eat meats like deli meat, to further reduce foodborne illness risk. So there can never be zero risk with a cold, ready-to-eat food that has been handled after cooking. And we often can’t put an exact number on it. That’s where it becomes a personal choice based on what you feel comfortable with.
For a crab or imitation crab sushi roll, I would recommend choosing a reputable restaurant with good food-safety practices, avoiding raw shellfish, and avoiding anything that has been sitting unrefrigerated. If you prefer to follow the most conservative food-safety recommendations during pregnancy, choosing seafood that is freshly cooked and served hot would be the lowest-risk option.
Hey! Yes, definitely okay to include!
Hi Emeline! Thank you for sharing this feedback. You actually posted this right before we rolled out a pretty major update to the meal planning feature, and I think the changes will make it feel much more realistic to use!
You can now repeat meals throughout your week (there’s a calendar button at the top right of the meal on your daily meal plan view), adjust serving sizes, and add recipes you find in the library directly to your upcoming meal plan, so you definitely don’t need to make a completely different meal with different ingredients every day. We agree that’s not realistic, especially during pregnancy!
For dietary preferences, the options are currently focused on the main dietary restrictions we can reliably filter recipes for, such as dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, vegetarian, etc. If someone needs to avoid more than 3 major food groups, we generally recommend working 1:1 with a dietitian so they can make sure their individual nutrition needs are still being met.
That said, I’d love to know what other preferences you were hoping to be able to select here? That’s really helpful feedback for us as we continue improving the meal planner.
If you haven’t already, make sure your app is updated so you have access to the new meal planning features. And please let us know if you have any questions as you try them out!
Hey! It would not generally be ‘unsafe.’ However, when possible, I do recommend choosing a protein powder without artificial sweeteners such as sucralose.
There’s more information about this in the artificial sweetener and protein powder notes, but the basic possible concern is that there are still unanswered questions about how artificial sweeteners may affect different areas of health, including metabolic and gut health.
I don’t think occasionally consuming something with an artificial sweetener during pregnancy is likely to be detrimental, but I also wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as an everyday go-to option when alternatives are available.Ultimately, it’s a personal decision based on your individual situation. For example, if you’re struggling to meet your protein needs and this is the option you tolerate or enjoy most, the benefit of getting adequate protein may outweigh the potential downside of the sweetener.
You’re very welcome! It sounds like you’re approaching this with so much care and thoughtfulness, and that alone says a lot. There’s no perfect way to eat during pregnancy, but I do hope this information helps to give more guidance and answers. Also, if it helps to follow a more structured plan, the meal plans can be a great option to follow.
Hi! Thanks so much for asking. Yes!
Discovery call and 1:1 application: https://l.bttr.to/upzHF
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Hey! I think it looks okay to include in moderation. Rhubarb root supplements have been used as laxatives and are generally not recommended during pregnancy. However, being lower on the ingredient list and not a concentrated supplement, again it’s likely not a concern for an option here and there.