Risk analysis in health care presumes a universal scientific basis. If this presumption holds true, then the same dangers should be identified wherever they may occur. To explore the extent to which risk is or is not neutral, we compare a sample of popular pregnancy advice manuals and websites published in China and the United States. A primary focus of these manuals is the identification of potential risks to fetuses and pregnant women and the prescription of behavioral solutions to minimize exposures to these risks. The authors of the texts in our sample claim to base their suggestions in medical scientific authority; however, our comparison of these materials reveals the social construction of purported dangers. Our findings indicate that culturally specific ideas about diet, gender, work and leisure activities all influence what is considered harmful to fetuses and pregnant women. For example, tea, as a central part of the Chinese diet, is considered safe even though it contains caffeine. US experts, however, recommend avoiding all caffeinated drinks during pregnancy. Additionally, the legal context in each country may shape what experts write about risk. For example, some Chinese experts consider watching television risky. Yet this behavior is never described as a potential risk in U.S. books; this may be explained by fears that powerful actors could question such claims and take legal actions against them. Our comparative approach indicates that risk, often articulated in terms of scientific objectivity, is in fact culturally constructed. Because this framework is used to formulate policy and law, it is crucial that social science researchers continue to question the neutrality of risk analysis.