Can you eat grapes while pregnant?

Yes, you can eat grapes while pregnant. Grapes are not on the NHS list of foods to avoid during pregnancy, and they can be included as part of a varied, balanced diet.

The main food safety advice is to wash fresh grapes thoroughly before eating them. This applies to other fresh fruit, vegetables and salad too, because washing helps remove traces of soil and contaminants.

There is no NHS guidance telling pregnant people to avoid grapes because of their natural sugar, their skin or compounds such as resveratrol. If you enjoy grapes, you can continue eating them during pregnancy unless you have been given different dietary advice for your individual circumstances.

Are grapes safe during pregnancy?

Fresh grapes are generally safe to eat during pregnancy when they have been washed thoroughly.

The NHS recommends eating plenty of fruit and vegetables during pregnancy and aiming for at least five portions each day. Fresh, frozen, canned and dried fruit and vegetables can all contribute.

Grapes are simply one option. You do not need to eat them because you are pregnant, and there is no reason to treat them as a special pregnancy food.

If pregnancy has changed your appetite, you may find some fruits easier to eat than others. Choosing a variety that you actually enjoy can make healthy eating feel much more manageable.

Why should you wash grapes before eating them?

The most important pregnancy-specific precaution with fresh grapes is washing them carefully.

NHS guidance advises washing fruit, vegetables and salads thoroughly to remove all traces of soil. Soil can carry the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, an infection that can cause complications during pregnancy.

That does not mean fresh produce needs to be avoided. Washing it thoroughly is the recommended precaution.

This applies even if grapes look clean when you buy them. Rinse them carefully before eating and follow normal food hygiene practices when preparing and storing fresh fruit.

What about pre-prepared grapes and fruit pots?

Pre-cut and packaged fruit can be convenient, particularly when you want something that requires very little preparation.

Current NHS pregnancy guidance advises keeping pre-prepared fruit chilled and eating it before its use-by date.

Check the packaging for storage instructions and keep refrigerated products properly chilled. If a fruit pot or prepared fruit has passed its use-by date, it is best not to eat it.

The same advice applies to mixed fruit pots containing grapes alongside other fruits.

Green, red and black grapes during pregnancy

Green, red and black grapes can all be eaten during pregnancy.

NHS pregnancy guidance does not distinguish between grape varieties or colours. The same basic advice applies to each: wash fresh grapes thoroughly before eating them and store them appropriately.

There is no need to choose one colour because it is supposedly better for pregnancy. Different varieties can simply be chosen according to taste, availability and price.

How many grapes can you eat while pregnant?

There is no NHS pregnancy-specific limit on the number of grapes you can eat.

Instead, grapes can form part of the wider recommendation to eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day.

Eating a range of foods is more useful than focusing heavily on one particular fruit. Fruit and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals and fibre, and different varieties contribute different nutrients to your overall diet.

If you have a health condition that affects how you have been advised to eat during pregnancy, follow the individual guidance given by your maternity team, GP or dietitian rather than general advice online.

Do grapes have too much sugar for pregnancy?

You may come across claims online that grapes should be avoided during pregnancy because they contain natural sugars. This is not part of general NHS pregnancy food guidance.

The NHS includes fruit as part of a healthy diet during pregnancy and does not list whole grapes as a food that pregnant people need to limit because of their sugar content.

Whole fruit is also treated differently from fruit juice and smoothies in NHS healthy eating guidance. Fruit juice and smoothies should be limited to a combined total of 150 ml per day because crushing and juicing fruit releases sugars from within the fruit.

There is no equivalent 150 ml restriction for whole grapes.

If you have gestational diabetes, pre-existing diabetes or another condition that affects your dietary needs, your healthcare team can give you advice tailored to you.

What about resveratrol in grapes?

Searches about grapes and pregnancy often bring up resveratrol, a naturally occurring plant compound found in grapes.

Eating grapes as a normal food is different from taking a concentrated resveratrol supplement. Grapes themselves are not listed by the NHS as a food to avoid during pregnancy.

Supplements are a separate issue. The NHS advises checking pregnancy supplements carefully and speaking to a healthcare professional if you are unsure whether a product is suitable.

There is no need to avoid ordinary portions of grapes because you have read warnings about concentrated supplements containing individual compounds found in grapes.

Can you drink grape juice during pregnancy?

Pasteurised fruit juice can form part of your diet during pregnancy, but juice is treated differently from whole fruit in NHS healthy eating guidance.

The NHS recommends limiting fruit juice, vegetable juice and smoothies to a combined total of 150 ml per day and having them with a meal. This is because juicing or blending releases sugars from the fruit.

If you are choosing packaged grape juice, check the label and storage instructions.

Whole grapes do not fall under the 150 ml juice and smoothie limit.

Simple ways to eat grapes during pregnancy

Grapes do not need any special pregnancy preparation beyond thorough washing and normal food hygiene.

You could eat washed grapes:

on their own as a snack
with pasteurised yoghurt
alongside other washed fruit
added to porridge or cereal
in a freshly prepared fruit salad
alongside meals as an easy portion of fruit

Pregnancy eating does not have to become complicated. If washed grapes are something you enjoy and tolerate well, they can simply remain one of your usual fruit choices.

What if you ate grapes without washing them?

It is easy to eat a few grapes and only afterwards remember the advice about washing fresh produce.

Eating unwashed grapes does not mean that you will necessarily become unwell. However, NHS guidance recommends washing fruit and vegetables thoroughly during pregnancy, so follow that advice in future.

If you feel unwell or are worried about something you have eaten, contact your midwife or GP for advice rather than trying to diagnose an infection yourself.

If you think you may have symptoms of toxoplasmosis, the NHS advises speaking to your GP. Many people with toxoplasmosis have no symptoms, while possible symptoms can include flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature, aching muscles, tiredness, feeling sick or swollen glands.

When to get professional advice

You do not normally need medical advice simply because you have eaten washed grapes during pregnancy.

Speak to your midwife, GP or dietitian if you have been given individual dietary advice, have a medical condition affecting what you eat, or are unsure how general pregnancy nutrition guidance applies to you.

If you are concerned after eating unwashed fruit or develop symptoms that make you feel unwell, contact your midwife or GP.

The NHS advises speaking to your GP if you are pregnant and think you may have toxoplasmosis. If you need urgent medical help but it is not an emergency, NHS 111 can advise you about the appropriate service.

For a life-threatening emergency, call 999.