Is Papaya Safe to Eat While Pregnant?

While ripe papaya can be part of a healthy pregnancy diet, unripe or semi-ripe papaya carries a little bit of risk. That’s because its latex has shown uterotonic (contraction-stimulating) effects in animal studies. The data on how unripe or semi-ripe papaya may affect a human pregnancy is scant, so to be extra safe, you may want to make sure you’re only piling your plate with fully ripe papaya.  

Benefits of Eating Ripe Papaya During Pregnancy

Generally, fruit offers lots of pros for pregnancy nutrition—and papaya is no exception! A few of its benefits include:

• Vitamin C: Supports immune function and enhances iron absorption.
• Folate: Important for neural tube development.
• Fiber: Helps prevent pregnancy constipation.
• Carotenoids (pro-vitamin A) and antioxidants: Supports healthy cell growth.
  

Risks or Considerations

Consider pausing your papaya consumption when it comes to…

• Unripe/semi-ripe papaya: It’s higher in latex (enzymes like papain, chymopapain), which has been linked to uterotonic/oxytocic activity in animal studies. Though evidence among humans is limited, it’s not a bad idea to pass on unripe papaya.
• Latex allergies: People with latex allergy sometimes have a reaction to certain fruits, including papaya. If that’s you, opt for other foods!
• Papain supplements: Avoid papaya enzyme supplements in pregnancy unless your doctor approves. Safety data is limited, but supplements are not the same as eating ripe fruit. Plus, supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA.
• GI sensitivity/reflux: Some folks find that tropical fruits trigger reflux—this is individual and not specific to papaya, but obviously skip if you tend to battle heartburn or bellyaches after tropical eats!

How to Safely Eat Papaya While Pregnant

• Choose only fully ripe papaya. Look for yellow-orange skin/flesh that’s soft to the touch. The latex content drops as papaya ripens.
• Wash the fruit under running water before cutting and use clean utensils/boards.
• Refrigerate cut papaya within 2 hours. And make sure your fridge’s temp is below 40°F.
  

When to Avoid Papaya

• If unripe or semi-ripe (including green-papaya salads, chutneys made with green fruit, etc.).
• If you have a latex allergy (there’s the chance of cross-reactivity): Skip papaya until you chat with your allergist.
• If you’re unsure of ripeness, sourcing, or preparation hygiene, skip it!

Bottom Line

Ripe papaya can be a healthy part of your pregnancy diet, but unripe papaya comes with the potential risk of uterine contractions and latex exposure. When in doubt, skip it or ask your OB-GYN. Stick to ripe, well-washed papaya and enjoy in moderation alongside other nutrient-rich foods!

More on Healthy Eating During Pregnancy:

• Brain-Building Foods to Load Up on During Pregnancy
• Real Talk on Foods to Avoid While Pregnant
• The Nutrients You Need While Pregnant
• Is Pepperoni Safe During Pregnancy?

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REFERENCES

• Papaya (Carica papaya) consumption is unsafe in pregnancy: Fact or fable? Scientific evaluation of a common belief in some parts of Asia using a rat model, British Journal of Nutrition, August 2002
• Uterotonic effect of Carica papaya latex in pregnant rats, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, November 1999
• United States Department of Agriculture: FoodData Central—Papaya, raw
• MedlinePlus: Latex Allergy
• Allergy to latex and papain, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, August 1995
• MedlinePlus: Pregnancy and Medicines
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Selecting and Serving Produce Safely
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Food Safety

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.