Deli meats?!!

marimommy12 · April 2015

I crave turkey sandwiches but I've been told that I am not allowed to eat deli meats. Have any of you guys eaten deli meats during pregnancy?!

mpache06 · April 2015

You can as long as it's heated up.

Growingapepper · April 2015

I have been avoiding deli meats this whole time, but Monday I caved and got a turkey sandwich from subway. The reason you're not supposed to eat deli meats is because of the risk of listeria. Really, any food can get listeria, it's just that deli meat supposedly has a higher chance. Just the other week there was a recall on some sabra hummus for listeria. Deli meat is perfectly safe as long as it doesn't have listeria!

sphillips18 · April 2015

Usually when I have a sandwich from subway I ask them to toast it but if I make one at home I eat it cold

mamabear9285 · April 2015

I've had blimpies a couples time. It was ahhhhhhhhmazing. Moderation is key to it all. Make Sure it's a clean shop with fresh food.

sngudgel · April 2015

My doc said not to worry too much. She said eat stuff that is fresh and that a place like Jimmy John's goes through enough meat that it doesn't sit around long. If it's been in the fridge for a while, I'd avoid it or if you don't know it's fresh. I have eaten a few things with sliced turkey.

mrscate88 · April 2015

@marimommy12 Did your doctor specifically tell you no deli meats or did you read it online? My doctor said it's better to avoid ham as it has the highest recorded listeria reports of deli meats. She also said any deli meat is fine if it's been heated up, and I told her I eat turkey sandwiches a few times a week and she said that's fine. Some doctors are more cautious than others, but mine is very balanced so I tend to follow her advice and eat everything in moderation. I eat lots of subway and lots of homemade turkey subs. Check with your doctor for peace of mind, but I'm fine with eating deli meat.

morethancottoncandy2 · April 2015

Eat the turkey.

Except gas station turkey. Don't eat that.

excited2bmommy09 · April 2015

I just ate a turkey sandwich for lunch lol. My doctor said it's fine to have a couple times a week and that's what I have been doing. Again as PP's have said, just make sure it's fresh and you should be okay

shaunnar053 · April 2015

morethancottoncandy2 said:
Eat the turkey.

Except gas station turkey. Don't eat that.

Lol yes!

)

nikkidavis421 · April 2015

I eat deli meat probably 4-5 days a week and I treat myself to a cold cut combo from Subway once every couple weeks (it's been one of my cravings..I have to satisfy it!) I think as long as it's fresh, kept cold and not outdated, the chances of it containing listeria are very slim.

sidskinner · April 2015

My doc said to avoid it unless you can broil it before eating. I LOVE turkey so its hard but when i think of the posibility that babies have actually died from listeria i just stay away

laur67341 · April 2015

I broke down and got an Italian Hogie today! Lol. But I got it at a trusted deli that I watched slice the meat. I'm not supposed to because of the preservative bc I have high blood pressure. But sometimes a mommas gotta do what a mommas got to do. Lol.

Drey329 · April 2015

I'm DYING for a turkey sandwich but everything I have read (including Expecting Better which debunks a bunch of pregnancy rules) says to stay away from turkey deli meat especially. If there's a loophole, I want in on it!

ashleylauriee · April 2015

I only crave turkey sandwiches with mayo both are "no nos". I've eaten them my whole pregnancy and just heard baby girls heart beat this morning. Moderation is key. Enjoy that turkey!

babs02 · April 2015

My doctor told me as long as it's sliced fresh from the deli and not pre packaged it's ok. My mil claims I can only have boars head, but she's a little crazy

RosieStadj · April 2015

I eat deli meats almost every day. I live at Subway.

vicks3590 · April 2015

You should be fine as long as u heat it up

jen83mn · April 2015

I'm avoiding them just to be on the safe side, but you can bet a Subway footlong is one of the first things I'm eating after giving birth!

kimmykay24 · April 2015

I have a degree in meat sciences from Auburn University and as long as you boil or heat the meat before you eat it, you will be fine. I eat a turkey sandwich everyday for lunch.. Yum!!!

amandamitcheroney · April 2015

Alllllll I want is an Italian sub! So it they're toasted are they okay? Or is it not warm enough to kill any bacteria?

thinkpink101 · April 2015

My doctor said to avoid it unless it's been heated through. I don't normally eat it so I don't miss it, but I do miss my soft cheeses.

wilcoxev · April 2015

I've been eating the bacon turkey bravo at Panera and having them hear up the meat. Delicious!

kajordan09 · April 2015

Heat up the meat if you want one - trust me it's really no big deal and it tastes the same afterward. If you go to a sandwich shop, just ask them to heat up the meat for you before putting it on the sandwich. I've been to my favorite local sub shop regularly, and they told me they get requests like this all the time so they're used to it. I'm sure places like Subway, etc probably get the same requests too.

prettyesq08 · April 2015

I occasionally go to subway. I ask them to toast twice. When I go to jimmy johns I get meat wrapped separately then warm it myself before eating.

Fayeth · April 2015

Well iv never been told not to eat cold meats. I'm from the UK and it's unheard of that it's even a risk.

ianthony06 · April 2015

I have been craving Publix Deli Sandwiches ,, they are the best !!!!! I do have them want my meat up though... I miss the cold sandwiches tho :-)

beansideirae · April 2015

I've read that melon is actually a bigger listeria risk than deli meat, they should tell us to avoid that! (and I have been, when I'm at Chinese buffet. which I should probably just avoid in general, heh.) I'm not a big deli meat eater anyway, but I do like my turkey Lunchables. I figure they're ok because they're well sealed.

lillaura4unme · April 2015

Do you live by a Schlotzkys? They heat the meat up to a point that would supposedly be safe. Also the location by my house is so busy I doubt the meat sits around for long. This might be a loophole. I ate once but otherwise have abstained from all turkey.

Kayciejoe56 · April 2015

None of the recent listeria outbreaks have been caused by deli meat. Most recently it's been hummus and ice cream. Before that it was melon and Carmel apples. This, like anything requires a little common sense and moderation. My dr. said just to make sure I get my deli meat from a reputable place and eat it when it's fresh! Turkey sandwiches are about the only healthy thing I crave, so when I want it, I get fresh sliced deli meat from the store and eat it that day. The only time I avoid it is a parties or wherever when it has sat out.

Jenten810 · April 2015

I can't help myself this pregnancy I craze a Publix sub weekly. It's so delicious!

And what @morethancottoncandy2 said! Haha! Avoid gas station food period.

missdaccortezz · April 2015

I've gone cold turkey (no pun intended?) with deli meats. I enjoy sandwiches so much, but I prefer them cold. I'll definitely be going sandwich crazy once baby is out! I need some prosciutto in my life!

BlueWaffleSpeshul · April 2015

morethancottoncandy2 said:
Eat the turkey.

Except gas station turkey. Don't eat that.

I have a friend here who eats gas station sushi.

So. Much. Nope.

morethancottoncandy2 · April 2015

BlueWaffleSpeshul said:

morethancottoncandy2 said:
Eat the turkey.

Except gas station turkey. Don't eat that.
I have a friend here who eats gas station sushi.

So. Much. Nope.

No bueno.

Katerina&Baby · April 2015

ashleylauriee said:
I only crave turkey sandwiches with mayo both are "no nos". I've eaten them my whole pregnancy and just heard baby girls heart beat this morning. Moderation is key. Enjoy that turkey!

Lurking from June 2015 - just an FYI: Mayo is not prohibited unless it's freshly made (due to raw eggs). The shelf-stable store bought stuff is totally fine.

Mawmee · April 2015

I am super lazy when it comes to reading, so I am sure it's already been said. BUT if you heat up the cold cuts, you will be fine. My husband makes paninis for this reason. Yumma.

marimommy12 · April 2015

I love hearing from all you mommies!! Thank you for your input! I will definitely be asking for them to heat up my sandwiches just to be safe! Xoxo

whitfi24 · April 2015

I eat a cold cut sandwich if I want one. The chances of being exposed to Listeria are very slim.

Maggilu514 · April 2015

Interesting, I just saw an ad in people magazine for Hormel natural choice deli meats that shows a picture of a pregnant woman eating a deli meat sandwich. And it says something like preservatives are for mummies not mommies. I threw the magazine away so I don't have the ad anymore, but it said something about a pasteurization process they use. Does that mean it's safe for us pregnant women to eat? I don't know, but the ad makes it look like it is. Check it out if you're really craving a Sammy!

baker1jm2 · April 2015

I've been eating deli meat all pregnant....I usually heat it up or get toasted subs but anything can have listeria....there was the hummus recall and just recently blue bell recalled all of their products. A couple years ago here was a huge outbreak in cantaloupe. If we avoided anything that could have listeria we wouldn't be allowed to eat anything. I say go for it!