Nest ScanMethodology
How we rate ingredients
Ratings come from a fixed list of rules, each taken from official pregnancy guidance and linked to it. The same label always gets the same result.
Where the rules come from
We only use health services, regulators and professional bodies: the NHS, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and NHS maternity services. If they don't cover an ingredient, it isn't on our list, and the app tells you so instead of guessing.
What the AI does, and doesn't do
The phone reads the label itself first. If it can't read it clearly, an AI model transcribes the ingredient list, and you can correct anything it misread. The AI never decides a rating, never gives advice and never sees your due date or health answers.
Who checked the list
30 of 30 rules were checked against their sources, most recently on 9 October 2026. They have not yet been reviewed by a clinician. Each ingredient page in the app shows its source and the date it was checked.
When guidance changes
We update the list without an app release. Products saved on your shelf are flagged if their rating changes.
The four ratings
Not for now
Official guidance says to avoid it while pregnant.
Limit
Fine within a limit the guidance sets.
Ask first
Guidance is limited, or the label doesn't say what we need. We tell you what to check.
No concerns
Nothing on our watch list. Not a promise that a product is safe.
The full list
| Ingredient | Rating | What the guidance says | Sources | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Not for now | NHS: drinking alcohol in pregnancy can cause long-term harm to your baby. It's safest to avoid alcohol. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 7 October 2026 |
| Caffeine | Limit | NHS: no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day, counting all drinks and foods. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 7 October 2026 |
| Cod liver oil | Not for now | NHS: do not take cod liver oil or supplements containing vitamin A (sometimes called retinol) when you're pregnant. Too much vitamin A can harm your baby's development. | NHS: Pregnancy vitamins and supplements (reviewed 3 Jun 2026) | 9 October 2026 |
| Cold cured meat | Not for now | NHS: cold cured meats such as salami, pepperoni, chorizo and prosciutto may contain listeria. Cook them until steaming hot before eating. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 9 October 2026 |
| Cold-smoked or cured fish | Not for now | NHS: cold-smoked and cured fish, such as smoked salmon, may contain listeria. Cook it until steaming hot. FDA: refrigerated smoked seafood is fine only in a cooked dish. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) FDA: Food safety for moms-to-be (current as of 27 Sep 2018) | 9 October 2026 |
| Enoki mushrooms | Not for now | NHS: enoki mushrooms may contain listeria. Cook them thoroughly before eating. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 9 October 2026 |
| Game meat | Not for now | NHS: avoid game meats such as goose, partridge, pheasant and venison. They may contain lead, which is harmful to your baby. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 9 October 2026 |
| Herbal tea | Limit | NHS: have no more than 4 cups of herbal tea, such as peppermint or chamomile, a day. There is limited research on herbal teas in pregnancy. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 9 October 2026 |
| High-mercury fish | Not for now | NHS lists swordfish, shark and marlin as foods to avoid. FDA adds king mackerel, orange roughy, tilefish (Gulf of Mexico) and bigeye tuna: the highest in mercury. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) FDA: Advice about eating fish (current as of 5 Mar 2024) | 7 October 2026 |
| Hot dogs and deli meats | Ask first | FDA: hot dogs and luncheon meats are okay to eat if you reheat them until steaming hot, because of listeria. NHS: keep cold pre-cooked meats chilled and eat them before the use-by date. | FDA: Food safety for moms-to-be (current as of 27 Sep 2018) NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 9 October 2026 |
| Liquorice root | Not for now | NHS: avoid herbal teas that contain liquorice root. Liquorice root may be harmful to your baby's development. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 9 October 2026 |
| Liver | Not for now | NHS: liver and foods containing liver have high levels of vitamin A, which can be harmful to your baby. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 9 October 2026 |
| Mould-ripened or blue cheese | Not for now | NHS: soft cheeses with a white coating (brie, camembert, chèvre) and soft blue-veined cheeses, pasteurised or not, must be thoroughly cooked before eating. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 7 October 2026 |
| Oily fish | Limit | NHS: no more than 2 portions of oily fish, such as salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines or herring, a week. They contain pollutants, including mercury, that can be harmful in large amounts. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 9 October 2026 |
| Pâté | Ask first | NHS: keep meat and vegetable pâté chilled and eat it before the use-by date; avoid pâté made from liver. FDA: refrigerated pâtés and meat spreads can carry listeria. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) FDA: Food safety for moms-to-be (current as of 27 Sep 2018) | 9 October 2026 |
| Raw fish and shellfish | Not for now | NHS: avoid raw fish and raw shellfish, including sushi made with raw fish (even if it was frozen first). Raw fish may contain listeria, and raw shellfish bacteria or toxins that cause food poisoning. Sushi with cooked fish is fine. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 9 October 2026 |
| Raw or runny eggs | Ask first | NHS: duck, goose and quail eggs should only be eaten well cooked; hen eggs only raw or runny if they carry the British Lion stamp or Laid in Britain mark. FDA: use pasteurised eggs in recipes that call for raw eggs. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) FDA: Food safety for moms-to-be (current as of 27 Sep 2018) | 9 October 2026 |
| Raw or undercooked meat | Not for now | NHS: avoid raw or undercooked meat because of the risk of toxoplasmosis, which can cause miscarriage. Cook meat thoroughly, with no pink or blood. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 9 October 2026 |
| Raw sprouts | Not for now | FDA: raw sprouts such as alfalfa, clover, radish and mung bean are not safe in pregnancy. Bacteria can get into the seeds and are nearly impossible to wash out. Cook them thoroughly. | FDA: Food safety for moms-to-be (current as of 27 Sep 2018) | 9 October 2026 |
| Soft cheese | Not for now | NHS: pasteurised soft cheeses such as mozzarella, feta, paneer and ricotta are fine. Anything made from unpasteurised milk must be thoroughly cooked. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) | 7 October 2026 |
| Tuna | Limit | NHS: no more than 4 cans or 2 tuna steaks a week. FDA: albacore and yellowfin once a week; canned light tuna 2 to 3 times a week. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) FDA: Advice about eating fish (current as of 5 Mar 2024) | 7 October 2026 |
| Unpasteurised juice | Not for now | FDA: avoid unpasteurised (raw) fruit juice and cider, usually sold in refrigerated sections, which may contain bacteria that cause serious illness. Pasteurised juice is safer. | FDA: Food safety for moms-to-be (current as of 27 Sep 2018) | 9 October 2026 |
| Unpasteurised milk | Not for now | NHS: avoid unpasteurised milk, cream, yoghurt, butter and ice cream (cows', sheep's and goats' milk). They may contain listeria, which can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or serious illness in a newborn. | NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (reviewed 15 Jun 2026) FDA: Food safety for moms-to-be (current as of 27 Sep 2018) | 9 October 2026 |
| Azelaic acid | No concerns | ACOG lists it among over-the-counter acne ingredients that can be used during pregnancy. For peels or prescription strength, ask your ob-gyn. | ACOG: Skin Conditions During Pregnancy (FAQ169, last reviewed Nov 2025) | 7 October 2026 |
| Benzoyl peroxide | No concerns | ACOG lists it among over-the-counter acne ingredients that can be used during pregnancy. For peels or prescription strength, ask your ob-gyn. | ACOG: Skin Conditions During Pregnancy (FAQ169, last reviewed Nov 2025) | 7 October 2026 |
| Clary sage oil | Not for now | NHS maternity aromatherapy guidance: clary sage is not to be used in pregnancy until after 37 weeks. Ask your midwife. | NHS North Tees and Hartlepool: Serenity aromatherapy in maternity (reviewed 8 Jul 2026) | 7 October 2026 |
| Glycolic acid | No concerns | ACOG lists it among over-the-counter acne ingredients that can be used during pregnancy. For peels or prescription strength, ask your ob-gyn. | ACOG: Skin Conditions During Pregnancy (FAQ169, last reviewed Nov 2025) | 7 October 2026 |
| Lavender oil | Ask first | There is no national guidance on essential oils in pregnancy. NHS maternity aromatherapy guidance: use them diluted in a carrier oil, and not at all with heart disease, epilepsy, recurrent bleeding or a history of premature labour. Ask your midwife. | NHS North Tees and Hartlepool: Serenity aromatherapy in maternity (reviewed 8 Jul 2026) | 7 October 2026 |
| Retinol | Not for now | A form of vitamin A, in the same family as isotretinoin. ACOG: it is generally recommended that topical retinoids be avoided during pregnancy, including those in over-the-counter products. | ACOG: Skin Conditions During Pregnancy (FAQ169, last reviewed Nov 2025) | 7 October 2026 |
| Salicylic acid | No concerns | ACOG lists it among over-the-counter acne ingredients that can be used during pregnancy. For peels or prescription strength, ask your ob-gyn. | ACOG: Skin Conditions During Pregnancy (FAQ169, last reviewed Nov 2025) | 7 October 2026 |
Spotted something out of date? Tap the flag on any result in the app, or write to [email protected].