Deli meat.... Is it really that bad for you?

guppyNme · October 2014

Like deli sandwiches and meat on salads....

VeganOnTuesdays · October 2014

What I have read so far about this is that Deli Meat is ok if you microwave it for 10 seconds to kill off any bacteria. The odds of getting Listeria from cold deli meat isn't extremely high but it is still a definite risk.

lgsdesigner · October 2014

Just heat it up a bit.

Pintobean39 · October 2014

I eat my lunchmeat with a side of bacon and cheese on top

mrshall1027 · October 2014

Yup, just heat it up and nothing to worry about.

Pintobean39 · October 2014

linegirl313 said:
Okay, but what about hot dogs? Same rule, right? Are you ladies embracing those, too? Baseball playoffs make me want hot dogs.

I never eat a cold hot dog ..... Ewwwww!!

lupineaura · October 2014

I recently asked a nurse at my RE's office this question. She told me to "stay away from the deli counter." Apparently the biggest concern is nitrates. Additionally, she told me there is a risk because they often store deli meats with non-pasteurized products, and apparently that can be a concern.

Logically, I can't imagine a turkey sandwhich here and there will cause problems, but I'm pretty OCD and will probably be sticking with cooked meats/vegetarian alternatives.

lupineaura · October 2014

linegirl313 said:

Okay, but what about hot dogs? Same rule, right? Are you ladies embracing those, too? Baseball playoffs make me want hot dogs.

I think hot dogs are fine if you get nitrate-free ones. Whole Foods actually carries a really yummy vegan hot dog...I ate so many of those last pregnancy.

greks84 · October 2014

I am so sorry to throw this out there but a friend of mine lost her baby at 6 mos bc of deli meats/lysteria. Don't risk it. And if you really want a sandwich make sure it's microwaved well or warmed up on a grill. Or stick to grilled cheese!

KristenLee2012 · October 2014

During my last appointment the nurse that was going through everything with me said deli meat is ok only if heated before you eat it. She also said in the office they would say ok to stuff like all natural turkey with no preservatives but one of the specialist overheard them telling patients and chewed them out, so she just recommended to stay away from it all together.

bye bye turkey and Gouda sandwiches

Morenajuliet · October 2014

@greks84 I'm so sorry to hear about your friends loss. If you don't mind me asking how do they test or find out that this is what the cause is?

I just steered clear of hotdogs, cold deli meats(actually I hate them warmed up so I didn't eat any). However, I eat so much salad and produce that there is also a risk there like a PP mentioned.

sunnyday016 · October 2014

I just eat everything. I have never gotten sick from deli meat or hot dogs before I was pregnant, so I am just not worried about it.

beaseg · October 2014

A good friend of mine was recently diagnosed with HIV and he was told to stay away from all deli counters. Deli Meats in general are just not safe if you have HIV. You may be wondering why HIV has to do with pregnancy- but the truth it, many of the food restrictions for people with HIV are the same as for pregnant women. In both cases, immune systems are compromised. He also can't have sushi and the cheeses we're supposed to avoid.

For me- I don't risk it with lunch meat. Regarding hot dogs, I didn't in my last pregnancy but I might eat one later in this one if it's nitrate free. Of course, right now I vomit bread and broth so hot dogs are the furthest thing from my mind.

Also, lysteria breakouts can happen with a lot of different foods- there was a big breakout in the Chicago area last year with something (I can't remember what!) that I remember being really surprised by. I think Cantaloupe? Also, if you're living off Cantaloupe please don't stop! I could be a million miles off with that guess, please don't let my prego brain worry you! Bottom line: Ask your doc. But you're the mama. Do what feels right to you.

greks84 · October 2014

@morenajuliet I'm sorry I actually don't know all the details. This was a few years ago and she was so upset that I didn't ask too many questions. I bet google could tell us how they test though. :-( So so sad.

mpiemont · October 2014

I don't really think this is a "poll" type question since it's not really an "opinion" question- I guess asking if people are/aren't eating it is a "poll", but asking if it's safe...that's more of a question for your dr on his/her recommendation. Yes the risk of listeria is low, but it is a real, true risk. It might not be all that common but it's not a "myth". I am sure there are women who ate deli meat all pregnancy long with no problems, and others who avoided it 100%. Listeria is also a risk with fruits/vegetables and my OB was sure to tell me to wash these things really well. So it's one of those things that you have to do the research and then decide what you're comfortable with. If you want to play it safe, heat it to steaming before you eat it. As for hot dogs, it's the same thing with heating to a high temperature (165). The nitrates in hot dogs aren't necessarily any worse for a pregnant woman than anyone else, these are a "in moderation" type of food.

(I've done alot of reading/research on these kinds of things, but I'm not an OB so don't quote me

)

Morenajuliet · October 2014

@greks84 that is so sad. I'm sure not asking too many questions was the best way to go.

Morenajuliet · October 2014

NariaDreaming said: I'm not a huge hot dog/sausage fan to begin with, so I steer clear of those anyway. But Bacon is a food group, dangit.

Bacon..........Also- I love summer sausage type meats which was my least favorite thing to give up.

[Deleted User] · October 2014

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DawnLilly · October 2014

Pintobean39 said:
I eat my lunchmeat with a side of bacon and cheese on top

Brie cheese to be exact.

dukwok · October 2014

I've just been avoiding deli meat because I don't really like the meat warm.

But can we get back to bacon. Good? Bad? Or only nitrate free?

Morenajuliet · October 2014

DawnLilly said:

I eat my lunchmeat with a side of bacon and cheese on top
Brie cheese to be exact.

I heart Wegmans, I ate so much Brie but most of theirs is Pasteurized!

chemmom1 · October 2014

I'm eating an italian sub sandwich right now...it's delicious.

HeatherC21 · October 2014

I had a salami sandwich heated up for a snack the other day and my DH about flipped.
My OB said deli counter meat is fine even cold, it's the prepackaged stuff to stay away from or heat. And hot dogs are fine as long as they aren't raw... eww.

kaynix21 · October 2014

I'm avoiding it....I don't like hot sandwiches so I don't want to heat it up. So I'm just not going to eat it.

lightrox · October 2014

Morenajuliet said:
@greks84 I'm so sorry to hear about your friends loss. If you don't mind me asking how do they test or find out that this is what the cause is?

I just steered clear of hotdogs, cold deli meats(actually I hate them warmed up so I didn't eat any). However, I eat so much salad and produce that there is also a risk there like a PP mentioned.

If you wash your veggies and fruit with vinegar it cleans it off really well. Vinegar is like a natural bleach the flavor doesn't stay on but it kills the bacteria.

lgsdesigner · October 2014

Regarding hot dogs: I buy the Oscar Meyer Premium that has no nitrates. They actually tastes better than the standard dog, and with no nitrates a win-win.

texasmama15 · October 2014

I ate a sandwich from Schlotzsky's yesterday but they serve their sandwiches warm so I figured that was fine. I'll probably stay away from cold deli meat.

14NicBB · October 2014

I told my OB at my appointment yesterday that I would love to have a turkey sub. He said all is fine, just make sure the meat is fresh :-) yay! I'll be having that sub for dinner tonight!

SnowFlake84 · October 2014

I eat it when there's no microwave around. We had a conference at work where they served sandwiches for lunch and it was go hungry or eat it.
Also, in college I was a cake decorator at a high-end grocery store. While the store was reputable, the deli employees oftentimes fudged the dates on deli meat. Their counter was right next to mine. If I'm buying it, I always ask for a type that has just been opened just in case.

DawnLilly · October 2014

My bacon comes from the youth show feeder pig my little cousin raised, my milk comes from the bulk tank unpasteurized unhomoginized, and my eggs come from the Amish. I'm trying hard to follow this conversation with sincere empathy.

ETA: terrible phone auto correct.

dukwok · October 2014

@mayflowers35 I just read symptoms show up between 2 - 30 days after exposure. Hopefully we're in the clear by now!

https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/listeria/

dukwok · October 2014

It's okay to eat if you get it sliced from the deli counter at the grocery store @scatteredtrees?!

SnowWifey · October 2014

I really don't pay mind to any of the food myths. Just use common sence and moderation and you can eat whatever you want!

MegsB1112 · October 2014

I just realized I ate cheese and sausage that had been left out all day twice in two weeks. Im not even sure if the sausage would have been okay in the first place, but it (and the cheese) hadn't been refrigerated in a while. Where was my brain?! And to have done it twice?! Yikes. I hope everything's okay and that I'm freakig out over nothing!! X_X

dukwok · October 2014

Good to know, thanks @scatteredtrees! I usually get the fresh sliced meat at my grocery store.

ashmichelle208 · October 2014

I had subway three times this week already. No shame in my game! And I eat it cold!! Yuuuuuum! This is my third pregnancy and I have always ate deli meat and hot dogs and probably all things we "shouldn't" eat. Oh like sushi! I plan on having a sushi date with hubs this weekend!

Deli meat.... Is it really that bad for you?

Deli meat.... Is it really that bad for you? 166 votes

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