Soft serve ice cream bad!? FREAKING OUT!!

blessednewmom1

I ate soft serve frozen custard this evening from a fast food restaurant.  I later read soft serve ice cream is a "no no" for pregnant women due to risk of Listeria.  I am freaking out now!!!  I am 18 wks and am worried for my baby!  Feel so bad I ate it!

AbJams

The chances of you getting listeria from soft serve or custard are so incredibly miniscule... I would not worry. It's not like you can uneat it anyway.

lageorgiapaperie

I had soft serve from McDonalds 2x this week. Don't sweat it!

marie_0907

Wow, I neverheard that or even considered it. My doc never mentioned it as a listeria concern either.

LAHN

I've never heard to avoid soft serve either, here is the pretty 'official' guidance though in case you're interested, and regarding soft cheeses, it is very rare that you can even buy non-pasteurized versions in the U.S. 

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/pregnancy_gateway/infections-listeria.html

hanna mae

Over the summer months, I eat soft serve ice cream A LOT.  I've eaten it a lot during all of my pregnancies and have never had any issues. 

rebeccaontherocks

Now I want soft serve ice cream... guess where I will be going today

heatherh424

why do people still make such a big deal about stuff they ate on here honestly?!  like are you really FREAKING out cuz you ate some ice cream??? lets calm down now... im not trying to be a b.i.t.c.h but its like annoying to still see these things on here... hot dog are ok..ice cream is ok...lunch meat...guess what ...its ok!...idk how many discussions about these things came up in the first trimester.... people need to relax your baby isnt going to grow a tail if you eat some soft serve or eat even 5 hot dogs and a sandwich in the same day!

TeacherVicky

AbJams:

The chances of you getting listeria from soft serve or custard are so incredibly miniscule... I would not worry. It's not like you can uneat it anyway.

This. I say this in a non-snarky way: relax OP. You'll survive and so will your LO. I have had soft serve many times and am not concerned.

manbearpig31610

I assume at your first prenatal appt your doctor went over the dos and dont's with you. It was probably something like "don't smoke, don't drink, do take prenatal vitamins..." If your doctor didn't mention soft serve icecream as a concern why waste energy worrying about it? You and your baby are going to be fine. Just follow your doctor's advice and resist the urge to go searching the internet for info. If you're really that concerned just mention it at your next appt. I'm sure your Dr will be able to offer you the reassurance you need.

LuvMyFurbaby

heatherh424:

why do people still make such a big deal about stuff they ate on here honestly?!  like are you really FREAKING out cuz you ate some ice cream??? lets calm down now... im not trying to be a b.i.t.c.h but its like annoying to still see these things on here... hot dog are ok..ice cream is ok...lunch meat...guess what ...its ok!...idk how many discussions about these things came up in the first trimester.... people need to relax your baby isnt going to grow a tail if you eat some soft serve or eat even 5 hot dogs and a sandwich in the same day!

I agree with the others, except the bolded. It was the one thing my generally-laid-back doctor told me to avoid.

The issue is that listeria is unlike other bacteria, in that it will continue to grow, even when the lunchmeat is kept properly refrigerated. The only way to kill it is to heat it.  

Ritzy19

The risk of getting listeria from eating soft serve is pretty low.  I honestly wouldn't worry about it.  I eat it all the time.

iluvmylab

heatherh424:

why do people still make such a big deal about stuff they ate on here honestly?!  like are you really FREAKING out cuz you ate some ice cream??? lets calm down now... im not trying to be a b.i.t.c.h but its like annoying to still see these things on here... hot dog are ok..ice cream is ok...lunch meat...guess what ...its ok!...idk how many discussions about these things came up in the first trimester.... people need to relax your baby isnt going to grow a tail if you eat some soft serve or eat even 5 hot dogs and a sandwich in the same day!

AMEN.  I'm eating Beanie weenies (homeade with my own weenie haha) right now.

KellyAnn911

LuvMyFurbaby:

heatherh424:

why do people still make such a big deal about stuff they ate on here honestly?!  like are you really FREAKING out cuz you ate some ice cream??? lets calm down now... im not trying to be a b.i.t.c.h but its like annoying to still see these things on here... hot dog are ok..ice cream is ok...lunch meat...guess what ...its ok!...idk how many discussions about these things came up in the first trimester.... people need to relax your baby isnt going to grow a tail if you eat some soft serve or eat even 5 hot dogs and a sandwich in the same day!

I agree with the others, except the bolded. It was the one thing my generally-laid-back doctor told me to avoid.

The issue is that listeria is unlike other bacteria, in that it will continue to grow, even when the lunchmeat is kept properly refrigerated. The only way to kill it is to heat it.  

That is untrue.  Lunch meat does not automatically have listeria bacteria in it.  It can grow listeria bacteria if it is old or not kept properly.  My OB said it was fine to eat lunch meat if you are getting it sliced directly at the deli or from a reputable sub shop (NOT Subway or another chain). 

LuvMyFurbaby

KellyAnn911:

LuvMyFurbaby:

heatherh424:

why do people still make such a big deal about stuff they ate on here honestly?!  like are you really FREAKING out cuz you ate some ice cream??? lets calm down now... im not trying to be a b.i.t.c.h but its like annoying to still see these things on here... hot dog are ok..ice cream is ok...lunch meat...guess what ...its ok!...idk how many discussions about these things came up in the first trimester.... people need to relax your baby isnt going to grow a tail if you eat some soft serve or eat even 5 hot dogs and a sandwich in the same day!

I agree with the others, except the bolded. It was the one thing my generally-laid-back doctor told me to avoid.

The issue is that listeria is unlike other bacteria, in that it will continue to grow, even when the lunchmeat is kept properly refrigerated. The only way to kill it is to heat it.  

That is untrue.  Lunch meat does not automatically have listeria bacteria in it.  It can grow listeria bacteria if it is old or not kept properly.  My OB said it was fine to eat lunch meat if you are getting it sliced directly at the deli or from a reputable sub shop (NOT Subway or another chain). 

I didn't say lunch meat automatically was infected with listeria. Don't put words in my mouth.

However, the part about it continuing to grow even in cold temperatures is true.

https://www.med.ufl.edu/biochem/DLPURICH/morelist.html 

MesmrEwe

From having been a food manager - it ultimately comes down to assessment of risk.  How many here have thermometers in their home fridge and freezer to know that they're holding temperature where they're suppose to (32-40 degrees TOPS in the fridge) to hinder bacteria growth..  Most people's home refrigeraters are set higher than that in spite of the recommendation to have colder temps.  That's a bigger issue than if you had some lunch meat you got from a sandwich at Subway, or Ice Cream you got from DQ.  Most states require restaurants and food establishments to use pasteurized dairy and eggs.  It's all about the food handling process.  Seriously, I know a lot of Amish/Menonites/Farm kids who grew up and turned out just fine drinking milk direct from the bulk tank.  If it was unapasteurized milk used to make the icecream that'd be one thing, but that wasn't likely the case. 

Chill out, have an ice cream cone ;o))