Is Nata De Coco Safe For Pregnancy? What Expecting Mothers Should Know

Packaged nata de coco is generally safe to eat in small amounts during pregnancy, but no study has tested it specifically in pregnant women, and the main things to watch are its added sugar and how it is stored. Nata de coco is a chewy jelly made of water and cellulose, and commercial nata de coco in syrup is typically pasteurized before it is sold.

This guide explains why nata de coco is considered safe, what pregnant women should watch out for, whether it has any benefits, how much to eat, how to eat it safely, and what to know about nata de coco drinks. This guide comes from Nico Brands, the brand portfolio of Nico Trading Company Limited, a Vietnamese manufacturer and exporter of nata de coco drinks. This article is for general information and is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or midwife about your own diet during pregnancy.

Can You Eat Nata De Coco While Pregnant?

Yes, most pregnant women can eat packaged nata de coco in small amounts, because it is a simple food made of water and cellulose with a long history of safe use. Nata de coco consists of water and cellulose (International Coconut Community). A 2017 toxicology review found no adverse effects of this bacterial cellulose in oral toxicity tests in rats and concluded that it is safe for food use, given its long history of consumption in Asian countries (Dourado et al., 2017). Commercial nata de coco in light syrup is acidic, with a pH of 3.3 to 3.9, and can be pasteurized at about 98 °C (208 °F) for 20 minutes to kill harmful and spoilage microorganisms (Hafzialman et al., 2014). These studies cover food safety in general, not pregnancy, so ask your doctor if you have a specific condition.

What Should Pregnant Women Watch Out For With Nata De Coco?

The four things to watch are added sugar, storage and food safety, homemade or unlabeled nata de coco, and choking risk with mini-cup jellies.

Added Sugar And Gestational Diabetes

Sweetened nata de coco is high in sugar, with 33.5 g of sugars per 100 g (3.5 oz) (DOST-FNRI). The World Health Organization suggests keeping free sugars below 5% of energy, or about 25 g (6 teaspoons) a day, for further benefits (WHO). If you have gestational diabetes, eat fewer foods with a lot of sugar, such as soft drinks, fruit juices, and pastries, limit how often you eat sweets, and keep portions small (MedlinePlus). Nata de coco in syrup counts as a sweet, so include it in your meal plan rather than eating it freely.

Storage And Food Safety

Food safety matters more during pregnancy, because about 1 in 25,000 pregnant women in the United States gets a Listeria infection each year, and 1 in 4 of them lose the pregnancy or the baby shortly after birth (CDC). Keep opened nata de coco in the refrigerator at or below 4 °C (40 °F), and eat refrigerated ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible (FDA). Do not eat nata de coco from a can or jar that is swollen, leaking, punctured, or badly dented (FDA).

Homemade Or Unlabeled Nata De Coco

Homemade or unlabeled nata de coco is harder to judge than a packaged product. Commercial nata de coco is typically pasteurized in a controlled heat treatment designed to kill harmful microorganisms (Hafzialman et al., 2014), while homemade fermentation depends on clean equipment and correct handling. During pregnancy, choose packaged nata de coco with a clear label, a use-by date, and an intact seal.

Choking Risk With Mini-Cup Jellies

Small mini-cup jellies can become lodged in the throat and have been linked to deaths in Canada, the United States, Australia, and several Asian countries (Canadian Food Inspection Agency). Eat nata de coco cubes with a spoon and chew them well.

Does Nata De Coco Have Any Benefits During Pregnancy?

Nata de coco has no special benefits for pregnancy; it is a low-fat snack that adds a little fiber, but it is not a meaningful source of vitamins or minerals. Sweetened nata de coco contains 0.2 g of fat and 0.8 g of dietary fiber per 100 g (3.5 oz) (DOST-FNRI), and its cellulose acts as an insoluble fiber (Dourado et al., 2017). Because nata de coco consists of water and cellulose, it should not be relied on for vitamin C, calcium, potassium, or iron during pregnancy. Its main value is as a light, low-fat treat when you want something sweet and chewy.

How Much Nata De Coco Can You Eat While Pregnant?

There is no official limit for nata de coco in pregnancy, so treat it as an occasional sweet and keep each portion small. A useful guide is the sugar: 100 g (3.5 oz) of sweetened nata de coco contains 33.5 g of sugars (DOST-FNRI), which is more than the WHO’s suggested 25 g of free sugars for a whole day (WHO). Draining and rinsing the cubes lowers the sugar, and eating a few spoonfuls rather than a full cup keeps the portion small. If you have gestational diabetes, ask your doctor or dietitian how nata de coco fits into your carbohydrate plan.

How Can You Eat Nata De Coco Safely During Pregnancy?

You can eat nata de coco safely during pregnancy by choosing packaged products, cutting the sugar, and storing it correctly.

1. Choose packaged nata de coco with a clear label, a use-by date, and an intact seal.
2. Drain and rinse the cubes to remove most of the syrup.
3. Refrigerate after opening at or below 4 °C (40 °F) and finish it soon.
4. Mix small portions with whole fruit or plain yogurt instead of eating it straight from the syrup.
5. Eat with a spoon and chew well, and avoid mini-cup jellies.

Can You Drink Nata De Coco Drinks Like Mogu Mogu While Pregnant?

Most pregnant women can have an occasional nata de coco drink, such as Mogu Mogu, but check the sugar on the label and choose pasteurized drinks. Unpasteurized juice can contain harmful bacteria that cause serious illness in pregnant women, while most juice sold in the United States is pasteurized, and juice in shelf-stable boxes, bottles, or cans is usually treated (FDA). Untreated juice sold in the United States must carry a warning label. If you have gestational diabetes, choose whole fruit over juice and limit sugary drinks (MedlinePlus).

How Do You Choose A Nata De Coco Product?

Choose a nata de coco product by checking the sugar per serving, the use-by date, the condition of the pack, and whether a drink is pasteurized. If the label does not answer your question, ask the brand or importer for the product specification sheet. Nico Brands, the brand portfolio of Nico Trading Company Limited, makes the Nico Nico juice drink with nata de coco and, for the United States and other Zuni Zuni markets, the Zuni Zuni NFC juice drink with nata de coco. Both contain 15% nata de coco and 30% or 55% not-from-concentrate (NFC) juice, and importers can request the specification sheet for sugar content and processing details. Nico Brands does not make health or pregnancy claims for these drinks.

Is Nata De Coco Safe For Pregnancy? Key Takeaways

Packaged nata de coco is generally safe to eat in small amounts during pregnancy, because it consists of water and cellulose and commercial products are typically pasteurized, but no study has tested it specifically in pregnant women. Watch the sugar, especially if you have gestational diabetes, refrigerate opened packs at or below 4 °C (40 °F), avoid damaged cans and homemade or unlabeled products, and skip mini-cup jellies. Nata de coco has no special pregnancy benefits, so enjoy it as an occasional treat and ask your doctor or midwife if you are unsure. For more, read about the side effects of nata de coco, whether nata de coco is healthy, the calories in nata de coco, and what nata de coco is.