Can you eat jelly when pregnant?

Last modified on Monday 19 April 2021

Summer dessert with red fruit jelly and fresh strawberries

Hannah Weiss

Writer

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Find out if it's safe to eat jelly during pregnancy. Plus, precautions to take to keep you and your baby healthy.

The official advice on eating jelly in pregnancy

Great news! It's safe to eat jelly while you're pregnant.

However, keep in mind that jelly often contains high levels of sugar as well as food colouring, so it's best to enjoy in moderation. If you do want to eat jelly, look for one with no added sugar.

The NHS recommends eating healthy snacks and plenty of fruit and vegetables during pregnancy. Getting enough fruit and veg will provide you and your growing baby with essential vitamins, minerals and fibre.

You can whip up some homemade jelly with a variety of fruits – just be sure to wash them thoroughly first to remove all traces of soil.

In the US, the word 'jelly' refers to what we think of as 'jam' in the UK. This type of 'jelly' is fine to eat, too – though again, you might prefer to opt for a lower sugar version.

Delicious dessert recipes

Love jelly? Why not try one of these great pregnancy-safe recipes?

The Day-by-Day Pregnancy Book: Count Down Your Pregnancy Day by Day by Dr Maggie Blott is packed full of advice from a team of experts to help guide you through your pregnancy from conception to birth. See more details here at Amazon.