Why are pregnant women more at risk for food-borne illnesses? what are they and how can they avoid them?

Usual precautions: I'm not an obstetrician so my colleagues will correct me if I'm wrong: but I'm not aware that pregnancy is a risk factor for food-borne illness. I'd advise usual precautions: wash your hands and utensils consistently. Be sure cooked food is adequately heated and not contaminated with uncooked food, especially poultry. Avoid sketchy restaurants. You should be fine!

Cook and wash: Pregnant women are more at risk because their immune system goes into a bit of hibernation in order to avoid rejecting the growing babe as "foreign". Food borne illness is bacteria on food. Ways to avoid: Cooking meats well, avoiding lunch meats and unpasteurized cheese, avoiding sushi, washing fruits and vegetables.