Can you have cured meat when pregnant

Prosciutto is generally named on lists of foods that pregnant women should avoid. This meat, often served cold, poses a slight but serious risk to the woman and her unborn baby because it can cause a food-borne illness called listeria. According to "The Pregnancy Cookbook," there are ways you can prepare prosciutto to ensure that it is safe to consume, but many pregnant women choose to avoid it altogether, just to be safe.

Details

Prosciutto is Italian ham that is cured in salt as opposed to cooked with heat. If it is cured or stored improperly, it can carry listeria, a type of bacteria that causes the food-borne illness listeriosis. This bacteria can also be present in other types of cured meats, such as hot dogs and sausages, as well as lunch meat.

Effects

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When you ingest meat that contains listeria, you can develop listeriosis. Though this type of infection is rare, the American Pregnancy Association cautions pregnant women in particular to take the threat seriously. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that pregnant women are 20 times more likely to develop listeriosis than non-pregnant people, and it is most common in the third trimester. Symptoms of listeriosis in pregnant women include nausea, fever, headaches and muscle aches. The illness can also spread to the nervous system, causing a stiff neck, convulsions and disorientation.

Risks

Listeriosis' risks to an unborn child are very serious. Even if the pregnant woman experiences no symptoms, the bacterial infection can still spread to the fetus and cause complications. Listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, as well as premature labor and delivery. If it is transmitted to the baby, it can cause birth defects and even death. The American Pregnancy Association estimates that about 22 percent of listeria cases in pregnant women lead to stillbirth or neonatal death.

Prevention

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The CDC recommends that pregnant women do not eat cured meats such as prosciutto and hot dogs, as well as luncheon meats, unless they've been heated in the microwave until they're steaming. They should reach a temperature of about 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, avoid cross-contamination by preparing these foods on separate spaces from the food that you are going to eat.

Expert Insight

The CDC says that, as long as you prepare the meat properly, you can eat prosciutto during pregnancy. However, you should never ingest cold prosciutto, nor should you eat it in restaurants. If you have eaten cold prosciutto and have no symptoms, the CDC says you do not need to see your doctor immediately, though you should mention it to him. If you develop flu-like symptoms, you should tell your health care provider so he can prescribe antibiotics.

Eating Deli Meats During Your Pregnancy: Is it Safe?

Deli meats refer to cooked meats that have been sliced and prepared for a sandwich and other light dining options. These could easily be called sandwich meat, lunch meat, cold cuts, or sliced meats. Deli meats can be classified as whole cuts, sectioned or formed meats, or processed meats. All types will fall into one of these three categories.

• Whole cut – whole cuts of meat that have been cooked and then sliced
• Sectioned – restructured meats from chunks or pieces bonded to create a single piece
• Processed – similar to sectioned, but may include meat by-products

Deli meats are one of the most common food items across the country. They are found in food chains, grocery stores, and local delis. Because they are so common, many people are surprised to discover there is a negative relationship with pregnancy. Deli meats and pregnancy concerns often have people asking what is wrong with lunch meat during pregnancy?
More than likely you have heard someone share the

Why Can’t Pregnant Women Eat Deli Meat?

More than likely you have heard someone share their advice about not eating deli meats while pregnant. You have probably heard others share personal stories about eating deli meats and everything turning out fine.
The good news is that the probability of experiencing a problem from deli meats is very unlikely. Approximately 2,500 individuals will become infected with Listeria annually. This means it is extremely rare. However, the problem for pregnant women is they are more susceptible to get it and their developing babies are more vulnerable to serious complications and even death.
The federal government has taken huge steps in helping to prevent the spread, or exposure, to Listeria. Listeria is killed by pasteurization and cooking. Cold cuts are now sprayed with a food additive that helps prevent Listeria before packaging.
You don’t need to panic if you are pregnant and have been eating deli meats. The probabilities are in your favor that nothing has happened. When it comes to deli meats it is important you know that the likelihood of being exposed to Listeria is low. On the flip side, you need to know that if your developing baby is exposed to Listeria it can be devastating.

Wait Until After Your Pregnancy or Take Precautions

Some people love their lunch meat sandwiches. Others opt for them because of ease or for the low cost, while some want something more nutritional than a fast food burger. The safest course of action to protect your baby is to avoid deli meats until after pregnancy.
If you plan to eat deli meats anyway, we highly suggest cooking them until they are steaming. If the meat is heated to steaming, any present Listeria bacteria should no longer be alive. More than likely everything will be fine, but if at all possible, it is best to find another go-to food.

Want to Know More?

• Foods to avoid during your pregnancy
• Is Sushi Safe for Pregnant Women?

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