Is Mithai / gulab jamun safe during pregnancy?

Indian foodSweets & sweeteners

No official guidance

None of the official sources we searched names mithai / gulab jamun in its pregnancy advice, so there is no official verdict. The general rules below still apply.

No official guidance

We searched these official sources for “Barfi”, “Gulab jamun”, “Ladoo” and “Mithai”. None names this food in its pregnancy advice, so this page gives no verdict of its own.

US FDA / US EPA: Advice about Eating Fish (For Those Who Might Become or Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding and Children Ages 1 - 11 Years)
US FDA: Meat, Poultry & Seafood (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)
US FDA: Dairy and Eggs (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)
US FDA: Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)
US FDA: Ready-to-Eat Foods (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)
US FDA: Eating Out & Bringing In (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)
US FDA: Dietary Advice Before and During Pregnancy
US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women
US CDC: Preventing Listeria Infection
NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy
NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy
NHS: Pregnancy vitamins and supplements
NHS: Drinking alcohol while pregnant
FSANZ: Listeria in food
FSANZ: Food safety for vulnerable people
FSANZ: Mercury in fish
FSANZ: Pregnancy and healthy eating
FSANZ: Raw fish dishes
FSSAI: Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 - Compendium Version VIII, Reg. 9 (warnings/declarations)
FSSAI: Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 - Chapter 2.10 Beverages (Version 3): standards for carbonated and non-carbonated caffeinated beverages
ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: cinnamon
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: fenugreek
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: garlic
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: soy
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: turmeric
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: ginger
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: flaxseed-and-flaxseed-oil
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: pomegranate
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: licorice-root
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: aloe-vera
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: peppermint-oil
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: green-tea
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: bromelain
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: ashwagandha
NIH NCCIH: Herbs at a Glance: chamomile

General rules that still apply

ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024

Sugar may be eaten in pregnancy, but it must be restricted to 25 to 30 grams a day. (p. 17)^[1]
Added sugar must be kept below 5% of daily energy intake in pregnancy. (p. 17)^[1]
Highly processed foods and foods high in fat, sugar and salt that offer little nutrition should be avoided in pregnancy. (p. 15)^[1]

NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

Sugary foods and drinks are often high in calories, which can add to weight gain, and they can also cause tooth decay.^[2]
Foods and drinks high in fat and sugar should be eaten less often and in small amounts.^[2]

Sources

ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 · nin.res.in. Printed pages 15, 17. Paraphrased and cited by printed page; the text is not reproduced.
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.

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.