It's best not to eat deli or lunch meats while you're pregnant, unless the food has been heated until steaming (165 degrees F) right before serving. These meats
can harbor bacteria
, which can continue to grow even when refrigerated.
Are there any safe deli meats to eat while pregnant?
Why microwave cold cuts? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises that pregnant women “
avoid eating hot dogs, lunch meats, cold cuts
, other deli meats (such as bologna), or fermented or dry sausages unless they are heated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot just before serving.”
Can I eat a turkey and cheese sandwich while pregnant?
Yes
.
Of course, if you're of the better-safe-than-sorry mentality but can't kick that hankering for a deli sandwich, just have them throw your sandwich into a toaster to get it steaming hot, which is supposed to reduce the risk of Listeria.
What happens if you get Listeria while pregnant?
During pregnancy, a listeria infection is likely
to cause only mild signs and symptoms in the mother
. The consequences for the baby, however, can be devastating — the baby can die in the womb or have a life-threatening infection within a few days of being born.
Can I eat chicken salad while pregnant?
Don't buy or eat premade ham salad, chicken salad, or seafood salad which may contain Listeria. These items are commonly found in delis.
Can I eat a deli sandwich while pregnant?
It's best not to eat deli or lunch meats while
you're pregnant, unless the food has been heated until steaming (165 degrees F) right before serving. These meats can harbor bacteria, which can continue to grow even when refrigerated.
What are the signs of Listeria in pregnancy?
- Pregnant women: Pregnant women typically experience only fever and other flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle aches. …
- People other than pregnant women: Symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions in addition to fever and muscle aches.
Can I eat lunch meat while pregnant if I microwave it?
Deli meats
can carry a bacteria that's especially dangerous during pregnancy
, but Teigen said microwaving them first is “a way to get around the system.” Expert guidance recommends pregnant people heat cold cuts to 165 degrees F or “until steaming” to kill bacteria.
What are the first signs of Listeria?
What are the symptoms of listeriosis? Listeriosis can cause mild, flu-like symptoms such as
fever, chills, muscle aches, and diarrhea or upset stomach
. You also may have a stiff neck, headache, confusion, or loss of balance. Symptoms may appear as late as 2 months after you have eaten something with Listeria.
Has anyone had Listeria while pregnant?
Good news—
they're very low
. It's true that pregnant women have an increased risk of contracting listeriosis, but the real risk is still tiny. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 1,600 cases of listeriosis in the United States each year.
Can Listeria affect baby in first trimester?
“How could listeriosis affect my baby?” During the first trimester of pregnancy,
listeriosis may cause miscarriage
. As the pregnancy progresses to third trimester, the mother is more at risk. Listeriosis can also lead to premature labor, the delivery of a low-birth-weight infant, or infant death.
Can I eat chicken Caesar salad while pregnant?
You can make Caesar salad without eggs. You can instead
use grilled chicken and savor it
. These days, Caesar dressings that are commercially available are prepared with pasteurized or cooked eggs and hence can be consumed by pregnant women.
Can I eat rotisserie chicken while pregnant?
What pregnant women can eat:
Hot rotisserie chicken or home cooked meat and homemade salads
. An alternative to deli meats is hot rotisserie chicken if purchased fresh and eaten hot. Cooking your own chicken or meat at home and heating any leftovers thoroughly is also OK.
Is cold cooked chicken safe in pregnancy?
Well-cooked chicken and other poultry are safe to eat while you're pregnant, as long as they're still hot. But you should
avoid cold cooked chicken and processed chicken meat from
the deli. Chicken is a good source of protein during pregnancy.
Can I eat at Subway while pregnant?
Restaurants such as Subway recommends that pregnant women eat the following non-luncheon meat items such as
meatball, steak and cheese, roasted chicken, and tuna
(limit 2 servings a week). Do not eat refrigerated pates or meat spreads.
How common is Listeria in pregnancy?
Listeriosis is a rare infection, but is
about 20 times more common in pregnant women than
in the general population. Pregnant women account for 27% of all listerial infections,
2
which can cause mild illness in mothers, but can be devastating to the fetus, in some cases leading to severe disease or fetal death.
