Is Potato safe during pregnancy?

Vegetables Also called Alu (Hindi); Gal alu (Bengali); Urulai kizhangu (Tamil); Bangala dumpa (Telugu); Batata (Marathi); Urula kizhangu (Malayalam); Alugadda (Kannada); Bateka (Gujarati); Urulaikizhangu (Tamil).

Part of a healthy pregnancy diet

The NHS lists potatoes among starchy foods and suggests leaving the skins on.[1]

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]
  • Choose wholegrain or higher-fibre starchy foods over refined white ones, for example wholewheat pasta, brown rice, or potatoes with the skins left on.[1]
  • Instead, choose something healthier, such as: Baked beans on toast or a small baked potato are suggested as a healthier snack.[1]

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.[2]
  • Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly to remove soil, because soil can carry bacteria that may make you ill.[2]

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.[3]

US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women

  • Riskier Choice: Unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, including lettuce and other leafy greens[4]
  • Safer Choice: Washed vegetables and fruits (washed and then cooked are safest)[4]

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)

Energy77 kcal
Protein2.05 g
Fibre2.1 g
Sugars0.82 g
Iron0.81 mg
Calcium12 mg
Folate (DFE)15 µg
Folate, total15 µg
Vitamin A (RAE)0 µg
Vitamin C19.7 mg
Vitamin D0 µg
Vitamin B120 µg
Choline12.1 mg
DHA (omega-3)0 g
EPA (omega-3)0 g
Caffeine0 mg
Sodium6 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Potatoes, flesh and skin, raw (FDC ID 170026), 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. 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.
  3. US FDA: Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  4. 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.