How to Check If a Product Is Safe During Pregnancy

Whether it is a face cream, a packaged snack or a supplement, you can check whether a product is pregnancy-safe in a few minutes. Here is a reliable method — from reading the label yourself to scanning the barcode for an instant answer.

Step 1: Read the full ingredient label

Start with the product's ingredient or nutrition list. For cosmetics this is the INCI list; for food it is the ingredients and any allergen or "made with unpasteurised milk" notes. If a product hides its full ingredients, that is a reason to be cautious.

Step 2: Look for commonly flagged ingredients

Certain ingredients are widely flagged for caution during pregnancy. In skincare and cosmetics:

• Retinoids (retinol, tretinoin, adapalene, isotretinoin, retinyl palmitate)
• High-percentage salicylic acid (above 2%)
• Hydroquinone
• Some chemical sunscreen filters (e.g. oxybenzone)
• Certain essential oils not recommended in pregnancy

In food and drink:

• High-mercury fish (swordfish, king mackerel, shark, tilefish)
• Unpasteurised dairy and soft cheeses
• Raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs
• Deli meats and pâtés (listeria risk)
• Alcohol, and caffeine above roughly 200 mg per day

Our ingredients to avoid and foods to avoid guides list these in full.

Step 3: Cross-check against health-authority guidance

Opinions vary online; published guidance does not. Confirm anything you are unsure about against recognised authorities: the FDA, ACOG and CDC in the US, the NHS in the UK, Health Canada, Australia's TGA, and the WHO.

Step 4: Scan the barcode for an instant check

Doing all of the above for every product is slow. A pregnancy safety app speeds it up. SafeMama lets you scan a product barcode and its AI analyses the ingredients against the same authorities listed above, then explains what it found — usually in a few seconds. SafeMama is free on the iOS App Store and Google Play.

Step 5: Confirm with your healthcare provider

An app or a label gives you a strong starting point, but every pregnancy is different. For anything uncertain — especially medications and supplements — confirm with your obstetrician, midwife or pharmacist.

Related guides

• Best Pregnancy Safety App: How to Choose One
• Ingredients to Avoid During Pregnancy
• Safe Skincare Routine During Pregnancy