There are many myths about the diet of pregnant women, and one of them is the total prohibition of the consumption of cold cuts and sausages. We will try to give some practical advice because there is no need for a total restriction, as it can cause unnecessary fear of eating these products.
You should be aware that the risk of eating uncooked meat can lead to contamination by germs such as Listeria and Toxoplasma, which are known to cause abortion and foetal alterations.
On the other hand, it should be pointed out that the possibility of acquiring these diseases is low nowadays. It is almost exceptional to listeriosis, while the risk of toxoplasmosis is even lower, the latter being the most controlled, usually during pregnancy. Due to its very low frequency, there is controversy among medical societies as to whether it should continue to be studied regularly in pregnant women.
It should also be noted that if a woman has been tested for toxoplasmosis antibodies and given a positive result, she can be considered immunised and not receptive to suffering this infection.
In any case, we will give you some recommendations on how to consume cold cuts and sausages safely by analysing each of the most common products on the market.
Cooked cold cuts such as ham, turkey or mortadella are suitable for consumption without risk of contagion. As these are processed meats, germs are avoided, so the only important thing is that they are of good quality.
Cured hams like Iberian, Serrano or Prosciutto can be consumed raw if cured for at least two years. Otherwise, freeze the ham for 24 hours and then you can eat it safely. Also, as always, you can fry the ham without freezing.
Do not consume raw tenderloin, strip loin and ribeye. You should always freeze these pieces of meat, as they lose just a little in texture, and their flavour remains when consumed after thawing.
Do not consume raw, uncooked sausages, salami and chorizo. To consume, they must be frozen beforehand. When consumed after defrosting, this type of meat loses some texture, but the flavour is maintained. Any sausage you consume should always be cooked first.
To sum up, we can say that cold cuts and sausages cured for more than 2 years are suitable for direct consumption by pregnant women, otherwise, they will have to be subjected to a minimum freezing of 24 hours or consumed cooked.
Dr Gregorio Manzanera Bueno
IMAGE: https://dulceembarazo.com/se-pueden-comer-embutidos-en-el-embarazo/
EATING COLD CUTS AND SAUSAGES DURING PREGNANCY
