Can you eat peanuts when pregnant?

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Charlotte Thomas

Social Editor

Find out if it's safe to eat peanuts and peanut butter during pregnancy, plus precautions to take to keep you and your baby healthy.

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The official advice on eating peanuts in pregnancy

Good news! Peanuts and peanut butter are safe to eat in pregnancy.

The NHS says that nuts are a good source of protein for pregnant women and you should only avoid eating peanuts if you're advised to by a healthcare professional or if you have a nut allergy.

In the past, pregnant women with a family history of allergies, including hayfever, eczema and asthma, were advised not to eat peanuts in case it increased the risk of their child developing an allergy, too. This advice changed in 2009 after studies found little evidence to link eating peanuts in pregnancy and allergies.

Delicious peanut recipes

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

• Chocolate and peanut butter cookies
• Chicken satay sticks
• No-bake chocolate and peanut butter bars
• Peanut butter and banana sandwiches

Take a look at

Foods to avoid in pregnancy: your definitive guide

Confused about what you can and can't eat during pregnancy? These are the foods and drinks you should avoid or cut down on to protect your baby.

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Looking for more pregnancy diet info? Check out our articles below, or swap tips with other mums-to-be in our forum.

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