Raw eggs in the salad dressing!

sorarose

So I decided to call the place from where I'm eating dinner tonight to ask about salad dressing. I know to steer clear from Caesar salads, but I decided to just ask if there was wine or raw eggs in the Italian house dressing. Lo and behold, raw eggs are included. I called another place I happened to have a couple days ago and a couple months back and they do, too! Is the only concern salmonella? I had my NT scan last Monday and baby looked good, but when will I know I'm in the clear ? Is it possible to not have symptoms but still have something affect the baby?

meggyme

The main concern with raw eggs are food borne illnesses like salmonella, E. coli, and listeria. If you're feeling fine, I'd say don't stress it. A lot of those DON'T EAT THAT rules are extreme cases. If you're eating at a reputable restaurant, you should be fine. Same goes for deli meat and sushi (with the exception of high Mercury fish).

kynbar5

More than likely you (and baby) are fine.

goldie987

As long as you aren't feeling ill, I'd say you're in the clear.  Speaking of which, we were planning on going out tonight, I should probably check to see if my preferred dressing contains raw eggs! 

sorarose

Thanks everyone. I feel fine this time around and even when I didn't feel great close to the last time I consumed the salad dressing (and a ton of other dairy like baked ziti that was more likely the culprit to make me feel sick to my stomach that night), definitely wasn't salmonella and definitely wasn't something that seemed to hurt the baby. I know the eggs are likely pasteurized, I just didn't know I needed to be even more diligent than listed in the already long list provided by the doctor's office. I wish more places would just mark on the menu that I'm consuming something raw at my own risk, like many restaurants do!

splsmama2016

The main concern about cross contamination/food borne illness with raw eggs is the possibility of the SHELLS still containing the bacteria, even after pasteurization. If a piece of contaminated shell gets in the food and someone eats it, they could very well get sick. You're good when it comes to salad dressings unless you chomp on a piece of shell.

That doesn't mean it's all good to go home and eat a whole tube of cookie dough, though but I so badly want to!!!

CallWool

I just thought you should know that you can't pasteurize eggs.  Yes, places should post if they are serving any raw food.  You might mention that to them and the reason for the concern.  You could save them from legal trouble and someone else from being sick.

splsmama2016

@CallWool you can pasteurize eggs, actually. Though most commonly seen as "egg product" sold in a carton, it's still 100% egg. And it's still raw.
The health department has a very low tech but efficient way of checking eggs. Using a bright light, the inspector can see through the shell and see any microfractures, see any pink tinge to the insides, and see that the general shape of the yolk is normal.
The main concern with consuming raw eggs is not the egg itself, like I mentioned before, it's the shell. Which can harbor bacteria from the hen and the surrounding environment.

Also, Caesar dressing, when "house made", is traditionally made with raw eggs (and whole anchovies.... Gross). As is house made mayo, aioli and some other sandwich spreads.

PugsandKisses

Did you get food poisoning from it, aka extreme nausea, vomiting and diarrhea?

No? Then you are good.

sorarose

Sgoldberg247 said:

As long as you aren't feeling ill, I'd say you're in the clear.  Speaking of which, we were planning on going out tonight, I should probably check to see if my preferred dressing contains raw eggs! 

The more places I ask, the more places I take off my list to eat. Favorite hibachi place apparently puts it in salad dressing AND yum yum sauce. There's no reason for hibachi if no yum yum sauce, IMO.

PugsandKisses

sorarose said:

Sgoldberg247 said:

As long as you aren't feeling ill, I'd say you're in the clear.  Speaking of which, we were planning on going out tonight, I should probably check to see if my preferred dressing contains raw eggs! 

The more places I ask, the more places I take off my list to eat. Favorite hibachi place apparently puts it in salad dressing AND yum yum sauce. There's no reason for hibachi if no yum yum sauce, IMO.

Seriously, just live your life.

sorarose

PugsandKisses said:

Sgoldberg247 said:

As long as you aren't feeling ill, I'd say you're in the clear.  Speaking of which, we were planning on going out tonight, I should probably check to see if my preferred dressing contains raw eggs! 

The more places I ask, the more places I take off my list to eat. Favorite hibachi place apparently puts it in salad dressing AND yum yum sauce. There's no reason for hibachi if no yum yum sauce, IMO.

Seriously, just live your life.

I'm not into unnecessary risk and listen to my OB who says no raw eggs. Of course, I know there is little chance of anything, but I'm not going to risk it. If that means I'm neurotic or whatever, I can live with that.

Monkeybutt80

sorarose said:

PugsandKisses said:

Sgoldberg247 said:

As long as you aren't feeling ill, I'd say you're in the clear.  Speaking of which, we were planning on going out tonight, I should probably check to see if my preferred dressing contains raw eggs! 

The more places I ask, the more places I take off my list to eat. Favorite hibachi place apparently puts it in salad dressing AND yum yum sauce. There's no reason for hibachi if no yum yum sauce, IMO.

Seriously, just live your life.

I'm not into unnecessary risk and listen to my OB who says no raw eggs. Of course, I know there is little chance of anything, but I'm not going to risk it. If that means I'm neurotic or whatever, I can live with that.

If you are not into unnecessary risks, then you should avoid the following:

driving (or riding in a car period)

eating any raw veggies or fruits (risk of listeria)

Eating out (restaurants are probably not as clean as your kitchen and there can be variety of food born illnesses - why take unnecessary risk?) 

No fish (mercury risk - not just the high mercury ones like tuna, but all fish - there is some mercury in them, why take unnecessary risk?)

No caffeine (not just coffee- tea but also chocolate)

Do not go outside (tick bites can carry lyme disease that can be fatal to your unborn baby)

I am sure there are many more, but these are just the things that come to my mind right now because I did take all those "unnecessary risks" today. 

sorarose

Monkeybutt80 said:

sorarose said:

PugsandKisses said:

Sgoldberg247 said:

As long as you aren't feeling ill, I'd say you're in the clear.  Speaking of which, we were planning on going out tonight, I should probably check to see if my preferred dressing contains raw eggs! 

The more places I ask, the more places I take off my list to eat. Favorite hibachi place apparently puts it in salad dressing AND yum yum sauce. There's no reason for hibachi if no yum yum sauce, IMO.

Seriously, just live your life.

I'm not into unnecessary risk and listen to my OB who says no raw eggs. Of course, I know there is little chance of anything, but I'm not going to risk it. If that means I'm neurotic or whatever, I can live with that.

If you are not into unnecessary risks, then you should avoid the following:

driving (or riding in a car period)

eating any raw veggies or fruits (risk of listeria)

Eating out (restaurants are probably not as clean as your kitchen and there can be variety of food born illnesses - why take unnecessary risk?) 

No fish (mercury risk - not just the high mercury ones like tuna, but all fish - there is some mercury in them, why take unnecessary risk?)

No caffeine (not just coffee- tea but also chocolate)

Do not go outside (tick bites can carry lyme disease that can be fatal to your unborn baby)

I am sure there are many more, but these are just the things that come to my mind right now because I did take all those "unnecessary risks" today. 

I listen to my OB, so sorry if that offends you for some reason. Thanks for taking the time to share your two cents. 

PrimRoseMama

If you didn't become violently ill after consuming it (and you would), and baby checked out ok-- then most likely you are in the clear.

meggyme

sorarose said:

Monkeybutt80 said:

sorarose said:

PugsandKisses said:

sorarose said:

Sgoldberg247 said:

As long as you aren't feeling ill, I'd say you're in the clear.  Speaking of which, we were planning on going out tonight, I should probably check to see if my preferred dressing contains raw eggs! 

The more places I ask, the more places I take off my list to eat. Favorite hibachi place apparently puts it in salad dressing AND yum yum sauce. There's no reason for hibachi if no yum yum sauce, IMO.

Seriously, just live your life.

I'm not into unnecessary risk and listen to my OB who says no raw eggs. Of course, I know there is little chance of anything, but I'm not going to risk it. If that means I'm neurotic or whatever, I can live with that.

If you are not into unnecessary risks, then you should avoid the following:

driving (or riding in a car period)

eating any raw veggies or fruits (risk of listeria)

Eating out (restaurants are probably not as clean as your kitchen and there can be variety of food born illnesses - why take unnecessary risk?) 

No fish (mercury risk - not just the high mercury ones like tuna, but all fish - there is some mercury in them, why take unnecessary risk?)

No caffeine (not just coffee- tea but also chocolate)

Do not go outside (tick bites can carry lyme disease that can be fatal to your unborn baby)

I am sure there are many more, but these are just the things that come to my mind right now because I did take all those "unnecessary risks" today. 

I listen to my OB, so sorry if that offends you for some reason. Thanks for taking the time to share your two cents. 

QBF
I think her point was if you avoided all unnecessary risks you'd starve. As long as you're not eating in places that aren't reputable most things on the "do not eat" list are fine in moderation.

splsmama2016

While my OB says to stay away from certain items, she also said that you can't avoid 90% of them. In other words, don't intentionally consume a raw egg on its own (or in the form of an entire batch of raw cookie dough. Tempting though.), cut back on deli meats (and nuke them if you want), and make sure that any sushi is using fresh fish from a reputable purveyor. I'm being cautious, but I'm still eating what I want, within reason. 

sorarose

meggyme said:

QBF I think her point was if you avoided all unnecessary risks you'd starve. As long as you're not eating in places that aren't reputable most things on the "do not eat" list are fine in moderation.

I understand the point. Unnecessary risk=things OB explicitly told me not to do, and I listen to my OB. My list from the doctor says no raw eggs. I had raw eggs in something, so I asked what is the risk with raw eggs (I knew salmonella and I know the unlikelihood of getting it), but I sincerely didn't know if there was another reason it was on the list. I have eaten the stuff the entire time, and I'm not losing sleep over it; I'm just going to stick to things that don't have them in it from now on. 

meggyme

sorarose said:

meggyme said:

sorarose said:

QBF
I think her point was if you avoided all unnecessary risks you'd starve. As long as you're not eating in places that aren't reputable most things on the "do not eat" list are fine in moderation.

I understand the point. Unnecessary risk=things OB explicitly told me not to do, and I listen to my OB. My list from the doctor says no raw eggs. I had raw eggs in something, so I asked what is the risk with raw eggs (I knew salmonella and I know the unlikelihood of getting it), but I sincerely didn't know if there was another reason it was on the list. I have eaten the stuff the entire time, and I'm not losing sleep over it; I'm just going to stick to things that don't have them in it from now on. 

No need to get defensive. You do you!

groovylocks

I drank a glass of wine on occasion. I ate sushi. I drank coffee and green tea. I didn't eat deli meats because I couldn't stomach the smell of meat or eggs. But I did eat a ton of Cesar salads. What I avoided? Drugs of almost all kinds but specifically ibuprofen and restricted/illegals. Cigarettes obv. McDonalds and most fast food. Food with excessive hormones. You need to keep in mind that the NUMBER ONE cause of food borne illness is raw vegetables. Fact. So just be careful but excessive stress is going to affect you a lot more than accidentally consuming a fraction of a raw egg. See the baby in my profile pic? I delivered her on the 10th. She's perfect. So relax and enjoy pregnancy and minimize risk without driving yourself crazy it's easier said than done but it makes for a wonderful 9 months.

groovylocks

To answer your question though the risk in your case is minimal. In fact if you are not sick by now, the risk is pretty much zero.

alynne1113

You called to ask if salad dressing was safe to eat? It's going to be a loooooong pregnancy if you worry about every thing like that. Pretty much don't eat gas station sushi or eat at restaurants that are covered in cockroaches you should be fine. In 2014 the main listeria outbreak in our area was salad and peaches.. So, you cant avoid everything.

groovylocks

^^ That. I began to notice something in my first trimester. If i had any question as to whether something was safe to eat and I asked google, there were scores of professionals that claimed it was not safe. So i tried an experiment. I did dozens of google searches for "Is x safe to eat during pregnancy?" - X being ANYTHING. Some gems of note "Is plain white rice safe to eat during pregnancy?" "Is tapwater safe to drink during pregnancy?" "Are apples safe to eat during pregnancy?" "Is parsley safe to eat during pregnancy?"

And guess what? According to what claim to be professional sorces, none of those things are safe to eat during pregnancy. For various reasons but the point is that anything you ask about, there is going to be at least one learned source that tells you to avoid it.

One point of contention between my husband/inlaws and i for a month or so was tea. Green tea. Which, surprise "is not safe to consume during pregnancy" - my inlaws are Chinese. Everybody in china drinks it to excess, pregnant or not. And even in spite of the one-child policy and the horrible rates of infanticide, they're clearly not having any trouble carrying their babies to term because, well, there are over a billion people in China today. So while the typical OB says it's "not safe" (my doc explained to me that there is a 'lack of research' which drives this 'avoid it' precautionary), the fact that it likely is perfectly safe is backed by a billion head count. Like, literally, it's math.

That being said, you should eat and drink only what you feel comfortable eating and drinking. Nobody here or anywhere else should pressure you into doing something you're not comfortable doing. I'm merely playing devil's advocate to try and give you, and others, peace of mind.

PugsandKisses

I agree with @groovylocks and @alynee1113

Life is a risk. People in other countries eat raw eggs every day, and weird cheeses, beer, sushi....

The big thinks to avoid is cigarettes, large amounts of alcohol ( or abstain, but that is a totally different debate), huge amounts of caffeine (200 mg is perfectly safe), lead,  large doses of radiation, X medications, foods with high amount of mercury (do people really eat swordfish today?), and any illicit drugs (pot, heroin, cocaine....)

Seriously, eating a little cereasar dressing is NOTHING compared to the women that did herione during pregnancy. And Yes, I have worked with many of them.

longhurrdontcurr

Seriously, I'm just happy to be able to eat something. I've struggled being able to stomach any food at all so when I do... I'm happy, I don't even care what it is.
My midwife told me the same stuff about raw food, deli meat, etc. Meh.
I've had gas station hotdogs, rare steak (from Ruth Chris and a fancy French place), house made Caesar salad (Ruth Chris and it was delicious), donuts, Mac and cheese and tuna, truffle Mac and cheese, McDonald's, deli meat sandwiches..... Etc. Haven't had any food poisoning, but some crappy cheesecake from the Asian market gave me the runs for an afternoon.