Can You Eat Deli Meat While Pregnant?
There are some obvious things you’ll need to avoid during pregnancy, like alcohol and smoking. But you may also have heard that eating deli meat while pregnant should be off-limits. While lunch meat seems harmless enough, doctors don’t make this recommendation on a whim: You can get seriously sick from having deli meat while pregnant. Here’s why it’s on the list of foods to avoid during pregnancy—and what you can do to reduce your risk.
While biting into a deli ham sandwich may sound like a dream during pregnancy, it’s recommended that you take a pass while you’re expecting due to the risk of listeriosis, explains Darin Detwiler, LPD, MEd, PhD, a food safety expert, associate teaching professor of food policy at Northeastern University and author of Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions. “Pregnant women are about 10 times more likely to get listeriosis compared to the general population,” he says. (According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant Hispanic women are 24 times more likely than others to get listeriosis.) “Listeriosis can lead to serious complications, including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.”
So, why can’t you eat deli meat while pregnant? Again, the biggest concern when it comes to deli meat and pregnancy is listeria. “Eating deli meat during pregnancy can pose a significant risk due to the potential presence of listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause listeriosis,” says Detwiler.
Listeria is a “dangerous bacteria” that can be found in soil, water, manure, lunch meats, hot dogs and soft, unpasteurized cheeses, says Sherry Ross, MD, an ob-gyn and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, and author of She-ology and She-ology, the She-quel.
“If a pregnant person consumes the listeria bacteria, it can cause fever, headache, flu-like symptoms, confusion, vomiting, diarrhea, miscarriage, preterm labor and stillbirth,” Ross says. “In severe listeria infections, seizures, blindness, paralysis, mental disability, and problems with the brain, kidneys and heart can affect the baby.”
The safest thing to do during pregnancy is to avoid deli meats, according to experts. But if you’re dealing with a serious craving for a deli turkey sandwich, heating up the meat will lower the risk of listeria.
Detwiler recommends heating the meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before eating it, since this “can effectively kill listeria bacteria.” “This means steaming the meat until it’s hot,” he says. Ross adds: “Listeria cannot survive when meat is properly heated on the stove or in a microwave.”
“To ensure the safety of both mother and baby, it’s advisable to avoid consuming deli meats unless they’ve been heated until steaming hot,” Detwiler adds. “Pregnant women should be cautious about where they source their deli meats, opting for those from reputable providers with high standards of food safety.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the chances of getting listeria from deli meat while pregnant?
“The chances of getting a listeria infection during pregnancy is very low,” Ross says. According to the CDC, there were 792 listeriosis case reports in 2019, 98 (or 13 percent) of which were pregnancy-associated. Still, it’s a good idea to be cautious. “Taking precautions is always recommended so a pregnant person doesn’t become a statistic,” says Ross.
Can you eat salami while pregnant?
Unfortunately no, since salami is a deli meat. As a result, it comes with a risk of listeriosis. “While all deli meats can potentially be contaminated with listeria, those that aren’t cooked or that have been stored improperly are particularly risky,” Detwiler says. “Deli meats that are pre-packaged or sliced at a deli counter can both carry risks if not handled or stored properly.” Detwiler also notes that “fermented or dry-cured meats, like salami and pepperoni, generally have lower risks, but aren’t completely safe unless cooked.”
Can I eat a turkey sandwich while pregnant?
If you’re considering a deli turkey sandwich, it’s safest to take a pass or to cook the meat before putting it on your sandwich. However, having turkey meat from a cooked bird—like Thanksgiving leftovers—is a different story. “Cooked turkey breast is fine,” Detwiler says. “Go with the cooked pieces.”
Can I eat deli cheese while pregnant?
Detwiler recommends being cautious about deli cheese. “My concern is the places where they use the same slicers for meats and cheeses,” he says. “They may not clean them and it’s not easy to clean those things.” Meaning, if the meat and cheese is sliced on the same machine, there’s a risk the deli meat could contaminate your cheese.
Ross recommends sticking to hard and pasteurized cheeses during pregnancy. “Cheeses that use unpasteurized milk can carry the listeria bacteria and should be avoided,” she says.
While it’s smart to avoid eating deli meat while pregnant due to the possibility of listeriosis, there are also lots of things you can do to minimize your risk of contracting the bacteria—including heating up the meat. If you have any questions about specific meats, be sure to check in with your healthcare provider.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Darin Detwiler, LPD, MEd, PhD, is a food safety expert, associate teaching professor of food policy at Northeastern University and author of Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions. He earned his PhD from Northeastern University.
Sherry Ross, MD, is an ob-gyn and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. She’s the author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women’s Intimate Health. Period. and She-ology, the She-quel: Let's Continue the Conversation. She received her medical degree from New York Medical College.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Listeria (Listeriosis): People at Risk – Pregnant Women and Newborns, October 2022
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Listeria (Listeriosis): National Enteric Disease Surveillance: Listeria Annual Summary, 2019, November 2023
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