During pregnancy, food safety becomes especially important. At this time there are two foodborne pathogens of concern: Listeria monocytogenes and Toxoplasma gondii. While the actual risk of infection with either is small, the consequences for your child can be serious, even deadly.

Q: How do I prevent foodborne illness during pregnancy?

A: These four simple rules are important for keeping your food safe:

* CLEAN Wash your hands with hot soapy water often, but always before handling any food and before eating. Keep all surfaces that food comes in contact with clean also.

* SEPARATE raw foods from foods that will not be cooked before eating. For example, don't let raw meat or raw meat juices come in contact with salad vegetables. Wash hands and utensils after handling raw meats.

* COOK all foods to the proper temperature, because heat destroys bacteria. For example, eggs are cooked until the yolk and white are firm and ground beef is cooked to 160 degrees F. Leftovers are reheated to 165 degrees F.

* CHILL by refrigerating perishable foods. Cold temperatures keep harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying. Defrost food in the refrigerator or under cold running water or in the microwave just before cooking.

Q: What bacteria do I especially need to be aware of during pregnancy?

A: Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies resulting in premature delivery, miscarriage, fetal death, and severe illness or death of a newborn from the infection. About 350 unborn or newborn children each year in the U.S. are infected.

Q: What can I do to prevent listeriosis during pregnancy?

A: Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats or deli meats unless they are reheated until steaming hot. Avoid deli salads.

Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, brie, camembert, blue vein cheeses and Mexican -style cheeses such as queso fresco. Instead use hard cheeses, semisoft cheeses such a mozzarella, pasteurized processed cheese slices and spreads, cream cheese and cottage cheese.

Do not eat refrigerated paté or meat spreads. Instead use canned or shelf stable paté.

Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood (found in the refrigerated section or at the deli) unless it is an ingredient in a dish that will be heated such as a casserole. Use canned salmon or tuna or shelf stable smoked seafood.

Do not drink raw unpasteurized milk or eat foods that contain unpasteurized milk.

Q: How can I keep my food safe from listeria bacteria?

A: Four steps you can take:

* Listeria monocytogenes is killed by cooking to 160 degrees F.

* Use a refrigerator thermometer to make sure that your refrigerator always stays at 40 degrees F or below. Some bacteria, including Listeria, can grow at temperatures above
40 degrees F.

* Follow use-by dates on perishable foods because bacteria can grow slowly in the refrigerator.

* Wash fruits and vegetables well under running water before eating raw.

Q: What other pathogen is of concern during pregnancy?

A: Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that causes an infection called toxoplasmosis. About 1,600 children are born each year in the U.S. with toxoplasmosis. It affects their hearing, vision or central nervous system. If the infection was during the last trimester of pregnancy, the disease will be relatively mild. Infection during the first trimester when the central nervous system is being formed is usually fatal.

Toxoplasma gondii infects essentially all cats that spend any time outdoors. It has two infective forms. One form is in cats' feces, which contaminates essentially all soils, especially in urban areas. Avoid gardening during pregnancy, since handling garden soil or breathing soil dust can lead to infection. If you choose to garden, wear gloves and wash them and your hands after you finish. Avoid cleaning the cat litter box. If you must clean it, do so daily, for it takes two days for cat feces to become infective. Wear gloves and wash your gloves and hands after you finish.

The other form of this parasite is found in the muscles of meat animals (most commonly pork) that have eaten food or drunk water contaminated with cat feces. To protect your baby from Toxoplasma gondii, you should avoid eating raw meat and avoid anything that could have come in contact with cat feces. Toxoplasma gondii is killed either by cooking meats to 160 degrees F or by freezing meats at zero degrees for several days.

You don't have to get rid of your cat. Normal handling of cats is safe. But especially now, be sure to always to wash your hands after handling your pets and before eating or preparing food.

For more information, see www.fsis.usda.gov or call the WSU/Yakima County Extension Office at 574-1600.

* Sheila Ryan is an agent for family and consumer science with the Yakima County office of Washington State University Cooperative Extension.

* For answers to food safety or food preservation questions, call the Master Food Preservers at 574-1600.