Can certain foods and drink cause birth defect?

YES, ...Some causes:: Alcohol; excessive caffeine; mercury: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish have highest amounts of mercury, can cause brain damage). Bluefish, striped bass, salmon, pike, trout, and walleye: high contamination of polychlorinated biphenyls. Some fish used for sushi; herbicides used in vegetables (e.g. Glyphosate used in genetically modified soy bean), low Folic Acid containing food.