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1st Trimester
What's the deal with deli meat?
Can we eat it or not? Some websites tell you to avoid it like the plague, while others say it's OK. I'm reading the "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" and they say do not eat deli meat and/or hot dogs (my 2 favorites).
I haven't seen my doctor yet because he wants to see me at 8 weeks. Just wondering what you all think. I'm finding that eating for 2 is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I'm fricken starving, because it seems like we can't eat anything!
TIA 
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Re: What's the deal with deli meat?
As long as you heat the meat to steaming, it will be fine, at least the deli meat. It kills the bacteria (listeria) that can be harmful to your baby. But honestly, in my first pregnancy, I still ate it once in a while, even without heating. I did try to avoid it, but I didn't cut it out completely.
Its absolutely fine. I promise. 3rd pregnancy and all is well. I eat hotdogs for breakfast sometimes. and please dont heat the deli meat. lol
If you take care of the lunchmeat (keep it cold and such) it will be just fine. The risk is when its being left out and chilled, left out ect. just like any other food contamination.
COLD lunch meat is fine as long as it is fresh, you DO NOT need to steam it.
I was also told packaged is safer as well due to FDA regs and the deli meat is more risk because they do not clean the slicer between each different meat.
Ditto!
Steaming = the hotdogs, not the lunchmeat
funny my Dr. said the exact opposite. She said to avoid packaged meat but that fresh cut deli meat is fine. I guess no one really know....
From my microbiology background I tend to agree that packaged meat is worse because it is more processed and has more chances to get contaminated, but who the hell knows.
Thank you ladies,
It seems like every doctor or person has a different opinion. I usually stick to the pre-packaged deli meat....and my confession: I eat a sandwich every single day! I love them. So that's why I'm a bit worried. They say at 6 weeks, your baby is already starting to soak up what ever it is you are eating, so I want to make sure all is OK.
Anyhow, I'm starving so I'm off to eat a turkey dog....steamed of course
)
Whether or not you eat lunch meat is a personal choice, just like everything else. The reason some people avoid it is the risk of listeria -- listeria is a bacteria that can be in meat, particularly undercooked meat. If you got listeria, you likely would never know it (you'd maybe have an upset tummy). However, if a fetus gets listeria, it can be deadly.
My doctor said to avoid undercooked meat -- so I'm supposed to get my hamburger's cooked all the way through. As for lunchmeat, she said the danger is that the slicer at the deli is used for everything -- so it will be used for roast beef (not fully cooked), then not washed before it's used for turkey, so the bacteria could transfer. That's why, at least according to my doctor, the prepackaged lunch meat is safer -- no risk of cross contamination.
If you want to be safe, just heat it to steaming. But, as you see, some people ignore this and their babies are fine.
As for hot dogs, I believe the risk is just that they have a lot of nitrates. I think nitrates in moderation are probably fine.
when I was pregnant with Katie, I avoided it in the 1st tri because it grossed me out! But I ate it later on and as long as you bought it fresh and ate it that day, it is fine. Also, Boar's head makes a nitrate free kind.
Ditto exactly.
Even though your appt isn't until 8 weeks your doctor's office is still there to answer these questions. Don't ever hesitate to call and ask questions. In fact, most offices provide a dos and don'ts list that they would probably be happy to provide you earlier on if necessary.
My doctor is a very liberal doctor and she told me no deli meats. She said if I want a turkey sandwhich then pick up a small turkey, cook it and slice it thin. She said the risk of listeria is slim but there are enough alternatives that it isn't worth taking a risk. I never asked about hot dogs because I can't stand them.