Is Corn (maize / bhutta) safe during pregnancy?

Vegetables Also called Makka Cholam (Tamil); Mokkajonna (Telugu); Maka (Marathi); Maize (Malayalam); Mekke jola (Kannada); Lili makai (Gujarati).

Part of a healthy pregnancy diet

The NHS lists maize among starchy foods, and the US FDA names whole-grain cornmeal as a whole grain.[1,2]

What official sources say

NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

  • Starchy foods include bread, potatoes, breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, maize, millet, oats, yams and cornmeal.[1]

US FDA: Dietary Advice Before and During Pregnancy

  • Examples of whole grains include: Whole-grain cornmeal[2]
  • Folic acid is sometimes added to staple foods to help people meet their daily needs, including: Fortified corn masa flour (an ingredient used to make foods such as tortillas, tamales, arepas, pupusas, cookies, and sweet rolls)[2]

Related general rules

NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy

  • Fruit and vegetables › Safe to eat: Most fruits and vegetables are safe to eat in pregnancy, as long as they are washed thoroughly first.[3]
  • Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly to remove soil, because soil can carry bacteria that may make you ill.[3]

US FDA: Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)

  • Thoroughly rinse raw fruits and vegetables under running water before eating or preparing them, especially fruits that require peeling or cutting - like cantaloupe and other melons.[4]

US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women

  • Riskier Choice: Unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, including lettuce and other leafy greens[5]
  • Safer Choice: Washed vegetables and fruits (washed and then cooked are safest)[5]

NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

  • Aim for at least 5 portions of varied fruit and vegetables a day, which can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced, and always wash fresh produce carefully.[1]

Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)

Energy86 kcal
Protein3.27 g
Fibre2 g
Sugars6.26 g
Iron0.52 mg
Calcium2 mg
Folate (DFE)42 µg
Folate, total42 µg
Vitamin A (RAE)9 µg
Vitamin C6.8 mg
Vitamin D0 µg
Vitamin B120 µg
Choline23 mg
DHA (omega-3)0 g
EPA (omega-3)0 g
Caffeine0 mg
Sodium15 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Corn, sweet, yellow, raw (FDC ID 169998), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.

Sources

  1. NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.
  2. US FDA: Dietary Advice Before and During Pregnancy · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  3. NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.
  4. US FDA: Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  5. US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women · cdc.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.

Sources checked 26 September 2026.

Quotes are checked word for word against each source page, and paraphrases against the original text. Official bodies are named as sources only: none of them reviewed or endorses this page.

Educational information, not medical advice. Your own doctor or midwife may advise differently for you — follow their advice.