Food Additives to Avoid During Pregnancy

Nutrition during pregnancy is crucial in the health and development of your unborn child. While Cleveland Clinic and others routinely recommend that pregnant people avoid certain fish, undercooked meats, soft cheese made with unpasteurized milk or large amounts of caffeine, food additives should also be considered, according to Huggies.

Be Aware of Sugar Substitutes

Most low-calorie sweeteners that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved or recognized as safe are okay to use in moderation during pregnancy. Their effects on children and pregnant women are still being studied, according to Nemours Children's Health.

While aspartame is generally regarded as safe for pregnant adults by the FDA, experts say to avoid aspartame in foods if you have a history of the genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU). This genetic disease can create a buildup of phenylalanine because of your body's inability to break it down. In large amounts, this can cause brain defects in your unborn baby, as the body can't break down the phenylalanine found in aspartame.

Saccharin (Sweet ‘N Low) is less commonly used today than in the past, according to the American Pregnancy Association, but can cross the placental barrier and remain in fetal tissue. As a result, more research is needed to determine the effects of saccharin in pregnancy. It's best to avoid it while pregnant.

Cyclamate is an artificial sweetener that is currently banned for use in the United States. There is insufficient data regarding the safety of its use during pregnancy, so it should also be avoided if you encounter it outside of the United States while traveling during pregnancy.

If you use artificial sweeteners and are pregnant, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider regarding your preferred sweetener and how much you consume, the American Pregnancy Association adds.

Consider Monitoring Food Dye Intake

There are currently seven certified color additives approved by the FDA for use in foods. In April 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the country's food supply.

That said, a study published in 2024 demonstrated that color additives are linked to a number of pediatric health problems. These include behavioral changes in children both with and without disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as children without behavioral disorders. In addition, a predisposition to pathological conditions such as cancer and allergies, as well as gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, was reported in the children who consumed the food dyes.

Whether or not these adverse health effects of artificial food dyes are a concern for embryos during pregnancy remains to be seen.