So can someone explain to me about lunch meat and pregnancy - listeriosis

[CrazyCatLady]

So I've always avoided lunch meat during pregnancy (because I'm "supposed to"). But it's always the only high protein thing that sounds yummy to me.

So can we just not eat the stuff that comes pre-packaged? What about the stuff that they slice right there in the deli for you? Is that ok or no? And I can't just heat it up in the microwave, cause I think that makes it gross.

And while we're at it...what about hot dogs? I know they're "bad", but what about kosher dogs? Are those ok? Or are hot dogs always a no?

Thanks

[MaerynPearl]

Im not particularly worried about it myself, having actually looked up the stats. Im more likely to die in a car accident on the way to the deli than I am to contract listeria... that is, however, my personal view on it.

As for hot dogs... Ive never heard not to eat them, tbh. Maybe its just dont eat them raw but to me thats just icky anyway!

[CrazyCatLady]

I'm an emetaphobic...so I'm more on the cautious side. But after three pregnancies and no lunch meat, I'm not sure that's the route I want to go this time if I can avoid it.

Maybe I should look up the actual stats.

[cagirlintexas]

I think if you eat hot dogs its better to get the ones that are nitrate free.

[Spiralshell]

The risks are actually very low. And the risk to you of not eating enough protein is actually much higher. So if you want a deli turkey and swiss sandwich, I say go ahead!

[spargel]

I was talking to my sister about it recently, and she mentioned that when her son was in the NICU, there was another baby in there who's mother had contracted Listeria. If the nitrates in there weren't enough to convince me...her story was.

[mistymama]

I just don't worry about it too much. Instead of microwaving, you could always toast the sandwich in the oven .. put a little cheese on top and broil until it melts. Much better than nuking!

Now I'm wanting a turkey sandwich - and it's 8am.

[jenifera2]

Hotdogs are bad because of 1) nitrates and 2) they really contain nothing good. But they're not in the same category as listeriosis. Too many hotdogs would be bad for your health, but one really can't hurt you, unless you had some sort of allergy or something. Kosher doesn't have anything to do with health. It means they're not made from pork and have followed certain cleanliness procedures dictated by the Jewish faith, but they still contain nitrates and all sorts of unknown bits of animal.

Buying deli meat from a deli counter does not eliminate the risk of listeriosis, but fresher meat from a place that is very clean will be safer than other options. The risk is definitely small in the sense that you're very unlikely to contract listeriosis from eating deli meat. On the other hand, the problems it can cause are very large, which is why many people are not comfortable taking even a small risk. And it's different from hotdogs - it's not eating large quantities that would be harmful, it's eating one bad sandwich. No one can predict whether it's your first, your hundredth, or your millionth (or never), though, so each time you eat deli meat your risk is as great as it was last time and it will be next time.

That last bit wasn't meant to be alarmist - the risk is very, very small. I'm just pointing out that this isn't really an "everything in moderation" situation since even just once can make you sick.

I don't know if anyone has a link to statistics they can share to help you make an informed decision, but it really comes down to your comfort level balancing the risk of something going wrong, how bad the consequences are if it does, and your alternative choices. You're not a bad person if you choose to eat deli meat while pregnant, and you're not an over-reacting Chicken Little if you don't.

[ein328]

Ehhhhh, I've read the stats too, and I agree with pp. Yes, listeria is a risk, but it's a comparably low one.

As expecting mamas, we all have to weigh the risk in practically everything we do, especially when just about everything has been labeled "risky"- thanks, lawsuit-happy culture!

I had HG with my last pregnancy, and have lost 10 pounds already with this one. One of the ONLY foods that I can routinely eat (and keep down) is a deli-meat sandwich (something like subway, panera, etc.) For me, I accept the risk of listeria, because I think it's more important to actually eat and keep food down.

Also, if you have a Firehouse Subs nearby, they steam everything :-)

[jjnoho]

i have been eating deli meat sandwishes every work day since the beginning of my pregnany because it was the only thing i could keep down. i tried nuking them at first but thought that was gross. now i just enjoy it!

[lillymonster]

I didn't know hot dogs were a "no" My last pregnancy, my doctor never mentioned lunch meat, so I figured if she didn't, I wasn't going to worry about it. I did stay away from sprouts because they seem to always remain "wet" which is breeding ground for bacteria but that is my own personal weirdness, which I think I have also read you are now supposed to avoid.

I eat prepackaged natural turkey meat because it's one of the few proteins I can handle now, basically it's one of the few I haven't thrown back up yet, so I continue to eat it.

[~Adorkable~]

For me with all these choices it comes down not as much on rareness, though that factors in a bit, but more about how bad it would be if I got whatever the issue of the day is and how bad it would be just not having the thing I want in my life.

Pregnant woman have a compromised immune system due to some things that the placenta produces to protect the baby, that at the core is what makes you more vulnerable.
Here is a good article that explains some of this issue on a scientific level
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_...e_in_pregnancy
The effects of particular infections of particular stages of the fetal growth is what makes it soo dangerous.
So yeah my pregnancy will be a long string of weighing options. I think for the most part I can live with or without most things for 8 more months.

[NorthernPixie]

There was a big outbreak of listeriosis in Canada in 2008 - a bunch of people died. It took a long time to figure out where the contamination was coming from, but over 200 products were recalled, many of them pre-packaged. No one I knew ate lunch meat all summer until it was sorted.

As a PP said, it could be just one bad sandwich, and it might come from the cleanest, nicest place you know if they happened to get a contaminated order. So long as the meat is heated to steaming (broiling with cheese - yum!) it's ok. But eating it cold is just not a risk I'm personally willing to take.

[Beltane]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

Im more likely to die in a car accident on the way to the deli than I am to contract listeria... that is, however, my personal view on it.

LOL!

Once in awhile we have lunchmeat, but I'm more worried about what ELSE it has been treated with! Here's an article about viruses being sprayed on lunchmeat to combat listeria http://health.dailynewscentral.com/c...ew/0002387/42/

I don't know how accurate the source is - I just did a quick search.

[at_the_hip]

I enjoy but I do heat it first...I make open-faced melts by broiling in the oven, or just throw the deli meat into a frying pain for a few seconds before adding to my sandwich. It only takes a second, eliminates the risk, and allows me to enjoy without concern!

[minkymama]

I LOVE lunchmeat and one of the hardest choices in my pgs is the choice not to eat them unless nuked! If you buy them still in the manufacturers packaging, it is considered safe to eat a small bit right fter the pack is opened.

I live in New Zealand - out of a population of 4 million people, around 6 pregnant women each year here are hospitalised with listeriosis. Lunchmeat is not always the culprit - pre-made salads and cold chicken or fish/shellfish are worse.

I choose to avoid it and my first meal after I give birth is always a ham and cheese sandwich!

Like the other posters, you have to weigh the risks and do what you feel comfortable with.

[CrazyCatLady]

It's been so many years since I was pregnant with my first and learning about Listeriosis, that I forgot it could really hurt the baby. I'd just remembered the symptoms of the disease (esp vomiting) and stayed clear of lunch meat for all my pregnancies. I don't want to mess around with birth defects or unnecessary vomiting, so I'm probably going to just avoid the lunch meats.

And when it's really killing me, maybe just broil it like you mentioned.

[Hannah32]

I've gone ahead and had several deli sandwiches throughout my pregnancy. I got so sick of frozen lunches or hot lunches that were disgusting and I'm not enough of a cook to have dinner leftovers every single day.

The idea of nuking deli meat is absolutely disgusting. And some of us don't have access to an oven to make a grilled sandwich while at work.

I've been fantasizing a lot lately about my pp plans to eat a healthy turkey or ham sandwich most days with baked chips and a fat free brownie. This plan was quite effective a few years ago for taking the weight off....

[RedOakMomma]

Hey Melaya (and did I miss that you're pregnant?!? CONGRATULATIONS!!! )

I've been eating the occasional deli meat sandwich. I get it from a grocery store I trust, and tend to buy the more expensive stuff that isn't so processed. I agree with Maeryn...I'm more likely to get hit by a car on the way to the grocery store than to get sick from good deli meat.

The one thing I'm sure to do is refrig. it right away and to eat it within a day or two of buying it. In non-preggo times, I'd get large amounts and eat it over a week or so. Now I buy small amounts, and only when I'm really craving good sandwiches, and eat it soon.

And I agree with you...rubbery microwaved deli meat is GROSS.

[Galatea]

I toast my sandwiches. I normally ignore all "don't eat while pregnant," but last week I just cleaned out some lunchmeat from my fridge. It was prepacked and sealed, and not past the date, but the whole bag had bubbled up with gas from some bacteria! It actually popped open the tupperware it was in! Now I am a little more leery of lunchmeat.