Is French fries / chips safe during pregnancy?

Prepared & street food

Choose oven chips lower in fat and salt

The NHS suggests that if you have chips, you choose oven chips that are lower in fat and salt.[1]

What official sources say

NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

  • If you eat chips, choose oven chips that are lower in fat and salt.[1]

Related general rules

ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024

  • Some fast foods, such as milkshakes, chips, pizzas, burgers and fries, are considered unhealthy because they are high in fat, sugar or salt, or ultra-processed. (p. 96) (general-population advice, not specific to pregnancy)[2]

Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)

Energy187 kcal
Protein2.7 g
Fibre2.3 g
Sugars0.49 g
Iron0.87 mg
Calcium13 mg
Vitamin C5.7 mg
Sodium393 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Potatoes, french fried, cross cut, frozen, unprepared (FDC ID 168948), 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. ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 · nin.res.in. Printed page 96. Paraphrased and cited by printed page; the text is not reproduced.

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.