Health & Wellbeing

Fermented Foods in Pregnancy: Safe, Essential, and Empowering

fermented food Ferments at Home Gut Health Kimchi

Fermented Foods in Pregnancy: Safe, Essential, and Empowering

Fermented Foods & Pregnancy: What Every Mama Needs to Know
GoodBugs: A Taste Adventure—Even Before Birth

At the farmers’ market, one question keeps popping up: “Is it safe to eat fermented foods while pregnant?”
Short answer? Absolutely. In fact, fermented foods like our raw, unpasteurised kimchi and sauerkraut are not just safe—they’re one of the best things you can add to your pregnancy nutrition.

Here’s why:

Your gut microbiome gets passed on to your baby
Eating ferments rich in probiotics (like GoodBugs Kimchi and Sauerkraut) helps build a strong, balanced microbiome—setting your baby up for better immunity, fewer allergies, and improved digestion.

Fermented veggies are incredibly safe
Thanks to the natural powers of salt, time, low pH, and good bacteria, fermented foods are hostile to pathogens and stable for months. We’ve tested our products up to 14 months post-ferment with zero nasties detected. That’s peace of mind in every jar.

Home ferments? Also safe!
With clean gear, salt, time, and a sealed fermenting jar, you can safely ferment at home too. Trust your senses—it should smell fresh and sour.

Start baby’s journey early
A splash of sauerkraut juice in veggie purées is a gentle way to introduce probiotics to your little one’s gut.

Whether you’re trying to conceive, growing a bump, or preparing homemade baby food—GoodBugs fermented foods are a tasty, gut-loving choice. If you're new to kimchi or kraut, start small. A teaspoon with dinner is all you need.

Got questions? Come chat with us at the markets or flick an email to mareaverry@gmail.com.

GoodBugs: A Taste Adventure—for every stage of life.

Read more →


What’s the Difference Between Kimchi and Sauerkraut?

fermented food Kimchi kimchi nz Sauerkraut sauerkraut nz where to buy kimchi nz

While both kimchi and sauerkraut are made by fermenting cabbage, the key differences lie in the ingredients, flavours, and origins. In a nutshell, kimchi is bold, spicy, and packed with seasonings, while sauerkraut is simpler, tangy, and all about that clean cabbage flavour. Both are delicious and packed with gut-loving probiotics, especially when they’re raw and unpasteurised like our GoodBugs ferments.

Read more →


What is the difference between raw sauerkraut and 'shelf stable' sauerkraut?

Ever wondered what separates raw sauerkraut from the regular stuff? Here at GoodBugs, we make our sauerkraut the old-fashioned way—with local, spray-free cabbages and no shortcuts. GoodBugs sauerkraut is unpasteurised and teeming with probiotics, ready to support your gut health.

Read more →


Eat GoodBugs for Gut Health

Eat GoodBugs for Gut Health

GoodBugs sauerkraut, kimchi and fermented pestos are packed with immune-boosting probiotics and nutrients which are great for gut health. Our sauerkraut is prepared the old-fashioned way with cabbage, salt and water. No starter cultures or preservatives are added during the natural fermentation process.  This fermentation process creates lactic acid bacteria and lowers the pH to <3.6. Along with refrigeration to preserve those gut healthy bacteria, this combination of salt, lactic acid and low pH means that sauerkraut is a super safe and healthy food that can be enjoyed in every meal, every day. Just a spoonful of sauerkraut added to your lunch or evening meal is an easy...

Read more →


Fermenting Herbs

Fermenting Herbs

Guest written with Erin Evis from Apothecare Natural Health  Fermentation: An easy and cost-effective way of enhancing bioavailability of medicinal herbs, and increasing the therapeutic value of fermented foods  Whilst it has been around for millennia as a method of preserving foodstuffs, the ancient art of fermentation has undergone something of a revival in recent years. Once an old, fusty kind of technique oft associated with our depression-era grandparents or 60s-era hippies (think the so-called Manchurian Mushroom, or kombucha, that was popularly brewed on kitchen benches), fermentation has become a staple darling of many a fashionable instagram food and health...

Read more →