Is Salad / leafy greens (lettuce) safe during pregnancy?

Vegetables Also called Salad ka patta (Hindi); Ilaikosu (Tamil); Kavu akulu (Telugu); Lettuce ka patta (Marathi); Lettuce cheera (Malayalam); Lettuce soppu (Kannada); Lettuce na pan (Gujarati).

Wash thoroughly

The NHS says to wash salad vegetables thoroughly; the US CDC lists unwashed leafy greens as a riskier choice and washed produce as safer.[1,2,3,4]

What official sources say

NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy

  • Fruit and vegetables › Foods to be careful with: Salads need care in pregnancy: wash salad vegetables such as lettuce and tomatoes thoroughly before eating.[1]

US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women

  • Riskier Choice: Unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, including lettuce and other leafy greens[2]
  • Safer Choice: Washed vegetables and fruits (washed and then cooked are safest)[2]

FSANZ: Listeria in food

  • Avoid pre-prepared ready-to-eat foods, especially: pre-prepared or pre-packaged fruit or vegetable salads, including those from buffets and salad bars (advice for vulnerable people, including pregnant women)[3]

FSANZ: Food safety for vulnerable people

  • Higher-risk foods: Salads - pre-prepared or pre-packaged fruit or vegetable salads (advice for vulnerable people, including pregnant women)[4]

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.[1]
  • Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly to remove soil, because soil can carry bacteria that may make you ill.[1]

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.[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.[6]

Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)

Energy15 kcal
Protein1.36 g
Fibre1.3 g
Sugars0.78 g
Iron0.86 mg
Calcium36 mg
Folate (DFE)38 µg
Folate, total38 µg
Vitamin A (RAE)370 µg
Vitamin C9.2 mg
Vitamin D0 µg
Vitamin B120 µg
Choline13.6 mg
DHA (omega-3)0 g
EPA (omega-3)0 g
Caffeine0 mg
Sodium28 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Lettuce, green leaf, raw (FDC ID 169249), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.

Sources

  1. 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.
  2. US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women · cdc.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  3. FSANZ: Listeria in food · foodstandards.gov.au. © Food Standards Australia New Zealand, licensed under CC BY 4.0; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  4. FSANZ: Food safety for vulnerable people · foodstandards.gov.au. © Food Standards Australia New Zealand, licensed under CC BY 4.0; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  5. US FDA: Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  6. 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.