Is Dairy Queen safe?

boodapug77

I read that soft serve icecream(dairy Queen) is not safe when you are pregnant? I have been craving it but don't dare to eat it.  So has anyone else read this and is it true? I need to ask my Dr. at my next appt. in a couple weeks.

mojoke

My guess is because it might not use pasteurized milk products? Let us know what your doc says. I would love to know myself

Spacebunny19

Never heard of this.  I don't really like DQ (it's expensive too) but I've had McDonald's soft serve.  It's not on my avoid list.  I am fairly sure they all use pasteurized products.  

KdgTeacher

mojoke:

My guess is because it might not use pasteurized milk products? Let us know what your doc says. I would love to know myself

Of course they would use pasteurized products.  The "fear" is over listeria and the machines.  You'll be fine OP

vic1011

It's pasteurized - and while I agree that most ice cream machines aren't well cleaned, at a place like DQ there's enough ice cream going through it that I'm sure it's fine.  Besides, I'm a big fan of everything in moderation.

sparkymcgeee

You will have a four headed cyclops baby if you eat that stuff. 

mommatotwo2

vic1011:

It's pasteurized - and while I agree that most ice cream machines aren't well cleaned, at a place like DQ there's enough ice cream going through it that I'm sure it's fine.  Besides, I'm a big fan of everything in moderation.

I don't get the "everything in moderation" when it comes to a product that could be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria is not cumulative, you only need 1 exposure to get it. So you could eat it 200 times and not get it, or 1 time and get it. 

I avoided soft serve my first pregnancy and I've been avoiding it this one as well. It's only 9 months

BC&LM

As someone who worked at a place that sold soft serve during college, I wouldn't risk eating it during my pregnancy. I was one of the people who always cleaned the machine properly, but I know there were others who tricked the machine into thinking it had been cleaned by just running hot water through it rather than scouring all the parts properly and using the cleansing solution. Since our immune systems don't fight off bacteria and other germs as well as people who aren't pregnant, I personally will not be eating soft serve while pregnant because I would be afraid of a machine being contaminated by improper cleaning. It's a choice you need to make for yourself, though, after considering all of the facts.

sparkymcgeee

zigspective:

mommatotwo2:

vic1011:

It's pasteurized - and while I agree that most ice cream machines aren't well cleaned, at a place like DQ there's enough ice cream going through it that I'm sure it's fine.  Besides, I'm a big fan of everything in moderation.

I don't get the "everything in moderation" when it comes to a product that could be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria is not cumulative, you only need 1 exposure to get it. So you could eat it 200 times and not get it, or 1 time and get it. 

I avoided soft serve my first pregnancy and I've been avoiding it this one as well. It's only 9 months  

It's not that listeria is a cumulative effect, it's that everything can be contaminated with listeria.

The last big listeria outbreak in the US involved fresh cantaloupe. Also recalled in the past couple years, cake mix, popcorn, apples, onion, tofu, pasteurized cheese, veggie dip and on and on.  If you start ruling out everything that could contain listeria you would be spending "only 9 months" on not much at all.

she could probably eat dry bagels. Oh and popsicles maybe! 

bumpuser8448316

zigspective:

mommatotwo2:

vic1011:

It's pasteurized - and while I agree that most ice cream machines aren't well cleaned, at a place like DQ there's enough ice cream going through it that I'm sure it's fine.  Besides, I'm a big fan of everything in moderation.

I don't get the "everything in moderation" when it comes to a product that could be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria is not cumulative, you only need 1 exposure to get it. So you could eat it 200 times and not get it, or 1 time and get it. 

I avoided soft serve my first pregnancy and I've been avoiding it this one as well. It's only 9 months  

It's not that listeria is a cumulative effect, it's that everything can be contaminated with listeria.

The last big listeria outbreak in the US involved fresh cantaloupe. Also recalled in the past couple years, cake mix, popcorn, apples, onion, tofu, pasteurized cheese, veggie dip and on and on.  If you start ruling out everything that could contain listeria you would be spending "only 9 months" on not much at all.

 

Liz4444

I ate soft serve all through my last pregnancy. 

doremi29

Now I want a Peanut Buster Parfait (we don't have DQ around here anymore)

Eleventy11

zigspective:

Oh geez, I just had to look this up because it sounds ridiculous... and it is.Basically they are saying that the ice cream machines could be contaminated with listeria, due to improper cleaning, and are therefore a risk.If the chance that something might be improperly cleaned is enough to scare you off ice cream just don't eat out ever during pregnancy.nbsp;

This. I lived on blizzards with my last pregnancy and enjoy them with this one. I only avoid things that have been associated with recent outbreaks ie cantaloupe. Like a PP said, you can choose to eat nothing or enjoy your ice cream!

sparkymcgeee

etoille:

meimsx:

zigspective:

mommatotwo2:

vic1011:

It's pasteurized - and while I agree that most ice cream machines aren't well cleaned, at a place like DQ there's enough ice cream going through it that I'm sure it's fine.  Besides, I'm a big fan of everything in moderation.

I don't get the "everything in moderation" when it comes to a product that could be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria is not cumulative, you only need 1 exposure to get it. So you could eat it 200 times and not get it, or 1 time and get it. 

I avoided soft serve my first pregnancy and I've been avoiding it this one as well. It's only 9 months  

It's not that listeria is a cumulative effect, it's that everything can be contaminated with listeria.

The last big listeria outbreak in the US involved fresh cantaloupe. Also recalled in the past couple years, cake mix, popcorn, apples, onion, tofu, pasteurized cheese, veggie dip and on and on.  If you start ruling out everything that could contain listeria you would be spending "only 9 months" on not much at all.

she could probably eat dry bagels. Oh and popsicles maybe! 

WRONG.  Saltines, ketchup, and cheetoes (puffs only).

/Rolls eyes @meimsx.

Bagels.  Humpfh.  Such a newbie.

I have so much to learn.

:hangs head in shame: 

mouse10031978

Wow- I have been partaking in DQ a bit too much and actually just had a blizzard today.. LOL. Who knew.  I had never heard of that one... 

sparkymcgeee

mouse10031978:

Wow- I have been partaking in DQ a bit too much and actually just had a blizzard today.. LOL. Who knew.  I had never heard of that one... 

That's because it's ridiculous and not worth the worry. I hope you enjoyed your blizzard. I really want something now because of this post.

April!

Darn it! Now I want a Frosty from Wendy's. We don't have DQ in Massachusetts. Or do we...? Better look it up!

dande2129

zigspective:

Oh geez, I just had to look this up because it sounds ridiculous... and it is.

Basically they are saying that the ice cream machines could be contaminated with listeria, due to improper cleaning, and are therefore a risk.

If the chance that something might be improperly cleaned is enough to scare you off ice cream just don't eat out ever during pregnancy. 

::thumbs up::

You're not a martyr if you choose to not eat it, but I will think of you as I lick my cone.

CelticWife

Lol. They came up with that during my 2nd pregnancy. Apparently, if they dont clean a soft serve vending machine properly there is a chance you could get listeria.

Of course, the last few listeria outbreaks were bagged lettuce and fresh veggies...

I love my ice cream. Might have to swing by DQ later.

arlingirl

Mmmmm Blizzard!

wouldntitbenice

As safe as any other fast food joint is. Soft server is fine -- it's pasteurized. If the restaurant is dirty that may be cause for concern. 

GraceInCA

While your listeria risk is probably very low (I would definitely not be worried), those things are super unhealthy. Just the "mini" sized Blizzard has over 40g of sugar. You go to a medium size and you're talking over 70 grams - that's like drinking two entire cans of soda. It's probably fine to have a mini/small one in moderation, but really moderation, not very often at all. 

Unknown

This content has been removed.

missyjg

Bliss+Berry:

It depends on how much you eat.  If you eat too much, you might be in danger of growing an extra asss.

That's my fear with DQ. They just built one near me and I have banned myself from going. My current asss is big enough, I don't need it to get any bigger.

nyki06

Now I really want a second blizzard this week. 

sloturtle

Just reading this post I am laughing so hard that I am burning enough calories for a blizzard!!

trevinosnm

Dangit I want a blizzard and a peanut buster parfait or maybe a dipped cone.  Ugh!  I guess I will have to settle for my tin roof ice cream in my freezer. LOL

Liz4444

GraceInCA:

While your listeria risk is probably very low (I would definitely not be worried), those things are super unhealthy. Just the "mini" sized Blizzard has over 40g of sugar. You go to a medium size and you're talking over 70 grams - that's like drinking two entire cans of soda. It's probably fine to have a mini/small one in moderation, but really moderation, not very often at all. 

mommatotwo2

meimsx:

etoille:

meimsx:

zigspective:

mommatotwo2:

vic1011:

It's pasteurized - and while I agree that most ice cream machines aren't well cleaned, at a place like DQ there's enough ice cream going through it that I'm sure it's fine.  Besides, I'm a big fan of everything in moderation.

I don't get the "everything in moderation" when it comes to a product that could be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria is not cumulative, you only need 1 exposure to get it. So you could eat it 200 times and not get it, or 1 time and get it. 

I avoided soft serve my first pregnancy and I've been avoiding it this one as well. It's only 9 months  

It's not that listeria is a cumulative effect, it's that everything can be contaminated with listeria.

The last big listeria outbreak in the US involved fresh cantaloupe. Also recalled in the past couple years, cake mix, popcorn, apples, onion, tofu, pasteurized cheese, veggie dip and on and on.  If you start ruling out everything that could contain listeria you would be spending "only 9 months" on not much at all.

she could probably eat dry bagels. Oh and popsicles maybe! 

WRONG.  Saltines, ketchup, and cheetoes (puffs only).

/Rolls eyes @meimsx.

Bagels.  Humpfh.  Such a newbie.

I have so much to learn.

:hangs head in shame: 

Alright ladies, I get it, LOL. I do forget about those other things.Although how does cake mix, popcorn, etc have Listeria? Don't you kill it by cooking it? I mean, I guess there are some crazy cravings, but it hasn't gotten so bad that I'm shoveling in dry cake mix hahaha.

In all seriousness though- I tend to go "by the book" on most things and the only reason I do is that I had a baby the first time with a kidney defect, which required her having her kidney removed at 14 months old after multiple horrible and invasive tests. I've always wondered if there's been something I could have done to prevent it. So now I am a bit ridiculous when it comes to being overprotective of this kiddo in utero. If something did happen, I don't want to question if I could have done something to save my baby's life or keep my baby from getting sick. Dramatic and over the top? Maybe. But it's just who I've become and I really do feel that it's not that terribly long of a time to just go without a little bit. I've already got Gestational Diabetes, so I'm doing a whole lot of going without, anyway.

rpalen29

i had dairy queen on friday night. a mini blizzard with heath bar. I'm alive, and baby is kicking away. go and eat your ice cream!

brissiegirl

I've been eating some soft serve, but not often and only from super clean, usually non chain stores that I trust.  I don't trust the kids in Mcd's and DQ near me to clean out the ice cream machines properly - the risk of listeria is very very low, but its still a risk.

Amanda&EricB

zigspective:

mommatotwo2:

vic1011:

It's pasteurized - and while I agree that most ice cream machines aren't well cleaned, at a place like DQ there's enough ice cream going through it that I'm sure it's fine.  Besides, I'm a big fan of everything in moderation.

I don't get the "everything in moderation" when it comes to a product that could be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria is not cumulative, you only need 1 exposure to get it. So you could eat it 200 times and not get it, or 1 time and get it. 

I avoided soft serve my first pregnancy and I've been avoiding it this one as well. It's only 9 months  

It's not that listeria is a cumulative effect, it's that everything can be contaminated with listeria.

The last big listeria outbreak in the US involved fresh cantaloupe. Also recalled in the past couple years, cake mix, popcorn, apples, onion, tofu, pasteurized cheese, veggie dip and on and on.  If you start ruling out everything that could contain listeria you would be spending "only 9 months" on not much at all.

All of this.... thank you.

Smartie26

Bliss+Berry:

It depends on how much you eat.  If you eat too much, you might be in danger of growing an extra asss.

Loooool!

LoA

Dammit! Now I'm craving a blizzard!!!

AFBTB

I heard about this when I was pregnant with DS. The danger of listeria if the machine isn't properly cleaned. So I began avoiding soft serve, but then I eventually changed my mind and stopped avoiding it.

It's a personal decision. If you don't want the risk then don't eat it. But you might as well invest in a big plastic bubble for the rest of your pregnancy too. There's risks in practically everything anybody does these days.

GraceInCA

Liz4444:

GraceInCA:

While your listeria risk is probably very low (I would definitely not be worried), those things are super unhealthy. Just the "mini" sized Blizzard has over 40g of sugar. You go to a medium size and you're talking over 70 grams - that's like drinking two entire cans of soda. It's probably fine to have a mini/small one in moderation, but really moderation, not very often at all. 

Hey, it's your choice, I'm just pointing out facts. I wouldn't drink two cans of Coke in one sitting, but I guess the social acceptability of places like DQ are why we have such a major obesity problem in the U.S. Just the thought of having 70 or 80 grams of sugar at once grosses me out. I had to battle to lose my chub, I have no interest in packing it back on while I'm pregnant, and potentially having complications with the pregnancy (and having to deal with losing it after).  I am merely pointing out that listeria is probably the least concern with a DQ Blizzard.

sparkymcgeee

GraceInCA:

Liz4444:

GraceInCA:

While your listeria risk is probably very low (I would definitely not be worried), those things are super unhealthy. Just the "mini" sized Blizzard has over 40g of sugar. You go to a medium size and you're talking over 70 grams - that's like drinking two entire cans of soda. It's probably fine to have a mini/small one in moderation, but really moderation, not very often at all. 

Hey, it's your choice, I'm just pointing out facts. I wouldn't drink two cans of Coke in one sitting, but I guess the social acceptability of places like DQ are why we have such a major obesity problem in the U.S. Just the thought of having 70 or 80 grams of sugar at once grosses me out. I had to battle to lose my chub, I have no interest in packing it back on while I'm pregnant, and potentially having complications with the pregnancy (and having to deal with losing it after).  I am merely pointing out that listeria is probably the least concern with a DQ Blizzard.

I'm so glad we have the fat and sugar police around to preach to us on a thread that had absolutely nothing to do with the sugar content of the food in question.

GraceInCA

meimsx:

I'm so glad we have the fat and sugar police around to preach to us on a thread that had absolutely nothing to do with the sugar content of the food in question.

Well, no.  I have no control over what you eat. As far as I can tell, police don't preach, they enforce. Pointing out the facts about a food item isn't even preaching. I didn't even tell her not to eat it, only that it's unhealthy and should be eaten sparingly. I find it bizarre that someone would be concerned about listeria, a very remote risk, and not care about what they were putting into their body for the actual damage it is much more likely to do.

I do find it amusing how defensive people get about their right to eat crap. "You'll pry this Oreo McFlurry out of my cold, dead hands!!!111eleventy!!!!!" Ok then, knock yourself out. I'll be here with a sympathetic ear next year when that outraged person is cryin' in their milkshake that they can't fit their buttspread into any jeans they own.

kelseypie

GraceInCA:

meimsx:

I'm so glad we have the fat and sugar police around to preach to us on a thread that had absolutely nothing to do with the sugar content of the food in question.

Well, no.  I have no control over what you eat. As far as I can tell, police don't preach, they enforce. Pointing out the facts about a food item isn't even preaching. I didn't even tell her not to eat it, only that it's unhealthy and should be eaten sparingly. I find it bizarre that someone would be concerned about listeria, a very remote risk, and not care about what they were putting into their body for the actual damage it is much more likely to do.

I do find it amusing how defensive people get about their right to eat crap. "You'll pry this Oreo McFlurry out of my cold, dead hands!!!111eleventy!!!!!" Ok then, knock yourself out. I'll be here with a sympathetic ear next year when that outraged person is cryin' in their milkshake that they can't fit their buttspread into any jeans they own.

Oh good grief. I'm sure OP [along with the rest of us] is aware that DQ has the potential to make her ass bigger. Thanks for the info, captain obvious.

Also, the original question was about soft serve ice cream. Not necessarily a giant lard and raw cookie dough blizzard. Perhaps OP just wanted a simple, small vanilla ice cream. There's nothing wrong with having a treat every now and then, especially if you exercise and keep a nutritional diet. Worry about your own ass fat, and we'll all do the same.

sparkymcgeee

kelseypie:

GraceInCA:

meimsx:

I'm so glad we have the fat and sugar police around to preach to us on a thread that had absolutely nothing to do with the sugar content of the food in question.

Well, no.  I have no control over what you eat. As far as I can tell, police don't preach, they enforce. Pointing out the facts about a food item isn't even preaching. I didn't even tell her not to eat it, only that it's unhealthy and should be eaten sparingly. I find it bizarre that someone would be concerned about listeria, a very remote risk, and not care about what they were putting into their body for the actual damage it is much more likely to do.

I do find it amusing how defensive people get about their right to eat crap. "You'll pry this Oreo McFlurry out of my cold, dead hands!!!111eleventy!!!!!" Ok then, knock yourself out. I'll be here with a sympathetic ear next year when that outraged person is cryin' in their milkshake that they can't fit their buttspread into any jeans they own.

Oh good grief. I'm sure OP [along with the rest of us] is aware that DQ has the potential to make her ass bigger. Thanks for the info, captain obvious.

Also, the original question was about soft serve ice cream. Not necessarily a giant lard and raw cookie dough blizzard. Perhaps OP just wanted a simple, small vanilla ice cream. There's nothing wrong with having a treat every now and then, especially if you exercise and keep a nutritional diet. Worry about your own ass fat, and we'll all do the same.

Mobile thumbs up. There are healthier options. Not everyone is going to get a jumbo snickers blizzard. A small vanilla cone is 230 calories and 26g of sugar.

pinottoparenthood

Ummm I have eaten like 5 McFlurries since I've been pregnant. They've all been delicious. Safe for baby, not so much for my waistline.