Pregnancy food guidance
Salad bar
Depends—Handling matters
Choose a clean, well-chilled salad bar and avoid higher-risk additions such as raw sprouts or unpasteurized ingredients.
What changes the answer for Salad bar
- Cold foods should remain at 40°F or below.
- Avoid raw sprouts.
- Choose washed produce and pasteurized dressings and cheese.
Why it matters for Salad bar
Prepared raw foods involve handling and temperature controls that are harder to verify.
Practical takeaway
When cleanliness or temperature is uncertain, choose a freshly cooked option.
Sources and review details
- Review status
- Source reviewed
- Last reviewed
- Guidance region
- United States
- FDA: Eating Out and Bringing In (opens in a new tab)Checked
- The Bump: Top Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy (opens in a new tab)Checked Medically reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD