Log In | Sign Up Now | Help & Support
Need Advice? Ask Your Question

Questions & Answers

Category: Is It Safe?

Asked by a member

Q: Deli meat no-no?

So I read that deli meat is bad for pregnant women & the babies due to potential listeria infections, mostly because deli meats aren't cooked. Well, this past week I've had a couple sandwiches with fully cooked deli turkey meat that, in addition, has been toasted. Is that okay? Or is it just cured meats that are the problem?

This question was asked Aug. 11, 2012 2:32pm
Category: Is It Safe?

Answer This Question
Answered by madijoh - Aug. 14, 2012 3:55pm
I wouldn't recommend getting deli meat from most grocery stores. Go to a local deli or store that has local farm raised meats.

296 out of 584 found this answer helpful
Was this answer helpful?  YesNo


Answered by JessicaWall11 - Aug. 13, 2012 10:58pm
Sorry to say but Im not very concerned with deli meat. I ate it through the whole pregnancy with my first daughter and she came out healthy all the way around. Ive been eating it this pregnancy (6 wks left) and she is measuring where she is suppose to be with a strong heart beat. If you're concerned with it, dont eat it.

294 out of 588 found this answer helpful
Was this answer helpful?  YesNo


Answered by Kfinzue - Aug. 11, 2012 9:32pm
My doctor told me as long as you heat the deli meat to a steam it's fine to eat. Although I work at a place that makes deli sandwiches, and am guilty of having a few not hot...woops...

287 out of 562 found this answer helpful
Was this answer helpful?  YesNo


Answered by Layne-Shane - Aug. 11, 2012 6:21pm
so i have a question,i love oven roasted turkey lunch meat,can i heat it till steaming and then let it get cold so i can have my cold cut? im a lil confused

270 out of 545 found this answer helpful
Was this answer helpful?  YesNo


Answered by cherienc - Aug. 11, 2012 6:19pm
I agree with the anonymous member on many counts, I use strict moderation when it comes to processed foods and factory farmed US meat because they are not only very unhealthy, but cruel. I am not currently a vegan, but have been in the past and I must say it was the healthiest time in my life!

Anyway, I stick to free range and antibiotic and hormone free meat of all kinds. I actually eat a lot of lamb too, the best burger I ever had was one of ground lamb made by my husband! We also use ground lamb in pasta and it is so delicious, even my nephew, who has a very picky and restrictive diet, told us that we should make that pasta every time he comes over!

I ate some corn dog at a fair before I knew how bad it was a few days ago, I am staying away from them now and hopefully I have not harmed myself or my baby with that. It is still early in my pregnancy, so who knows what I will be craving! It is so hard between food aversions and morning sickness, we only do our best!

274 out of 548 found this answer helpful
Was this answer helpful?  YesNo


Answered by a member - Aug. 11, 2012 5:47pm
Deli meats, hot dogs and bacon are also highly processed foods which the medical professionals recommends everyone should stay away from, not just pregnant women.

I for one, at least in the U.S., am limiting my consumption of factory farmed animals and am sticking with lamb, free range and hormone and antibiotic free chicken, grass fed and free range and antibiotic free beef, and hormone free and antibiotic free eggs from free range chickens.

http://www.babycenter.com/406_is-it-safe-for-pregnant-women-to-eat-meat-from-livestock-tha_1245310.bc

http://www.babycenter.com/406_is-it-safe-to-eat-cured-or-smoked-foods-while-im-pregnant_1246924.bc

http://www.babycenter.com/406_is-it-safe-to-eat-deli-meats-when-im-pregnant_1246923.bc

http://www.babycenter.com/is-it-safe-nutrition-during-pregnancy

277 out of 561 found this answer helpful
Was this answer helpful?  YesNo


Answered by a member - Aug. 11, 2012 5:35pm
Yes, Listeria is not extremely common, and if you want to eat deli meats you can if you heat them until they are steaming hot.

However, the meat in the U.S. is much less safe than it is in other countries because of factory farming. Mass produced meat in the U.S. are fed growth hormones and antibiotics which go into your body and your vulnerable baby's body. The reason they are given antibiotics is because the living conditions are so horribly disease infested since animals are overcrowded and live in their own feces. In fact, the FDA just approved an new virus eating bacteria to be sprayed on the meat we buy from the store.

It is also not recommended to eat bacon or hotdogs because they are very high in nitrates and also contain a lot of sodium which can make us retain water and swell up. It is also not recommended to eat pate because of the listeria risk and because of the high content of vitamin A which can be deadly if you consume too much at one time.


283 out of 563 found this answer helpful
Was this answer helpful?  YesNo


Answered by Falliiing - Aug. 11, 2012 5:08pm
The deli meat always has a chance of giving ANYONE listeria.
Its only they advise against eating it now is because pregnant women are more susceptible to infections.
So eating foods that could potentially cause us to get sick they scare us away from. Even if the potential is EXTREMELY rare.
It is VERY rare that you can contract listeria. But if you do it will present as a flu.

I have been eating deli meat nearly every day of my pregnancy.
So far so good.
Im not one to scare easy.
And if I get sick? I get sick!

284 out of 555 found this answer helpful
Was this answer helpful?  YesNo


Answered by jenniferose88 - Aug. 11, 2012 3:36pm
I live in the US and they always say not to eat it, but I've eaten it my whole pregnancy and nothing has happened. If you eat the deli meat cooked, it's safer, but I'm 34 weeks and have eaten it the whole time and baby and I are just fine.

280 out of 553 found this answer helpful
Was this answer helpful?  YesNo


Answered by amy_toner - Aug. 11, 2012 2:49pm
ive eaten deli meats my whole pregnancy and smoked salmon. in the US they seem to say its a big no no whereas in the UK its a well if you want to.

as long as you know where its come from id think it was ok my MW didnt seen concerned at all.

speak with your MW if your not sure though!

289 out of 564 found this answer helpful
Was this answer helpful?  YesNo


Answer This Question

You are not logged in.
Log in or Register to post an answer to this question.