Why can't you eat lunch meat while you are pregnant?

Question

My pregnancy books says to avoid it and I asked my doctor and he said that you should have none, but did not really give me a reason you cant. Is it because of perservatives or other chemicals?

Answer 1

It can cause Listeria which can complicate the pregnancy. If your going to eat them, you have to make sure they are well heated first. Also dont eat soft cheeses, and certain types of sea food that is high in mercury. ( by the way, I eat lunch meat and have gone to Subway plenty of times before Ihad heard of this. So dont worry about it too much. I guess its just a gamble )

Answer 2

I found this on a website

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There are at least two areas of concern in regard to eating lunch meats while you are pregnant: nitrates and listeria.

Pre-packaged lunch meats often contain high levels of a preservative called sodium nitrate. There have been few studies related to the effect of sodium nitrates on pregnancy, but some experts suggest that nitrates may cause problems during pregnancy.

The biggest concern with lunch meats during pregnancy is the risk of listeria. Listeria is a bacteria that can be found in deli meats as well as vegetables and processed foods. This bacteria can cause an illness known as Listeriosis, which can cause any number of problems during pregnancy such as:

- Miscarriage
- Premature delivery
- Infection to the newborn
- Death to the newborn (about 1/4 of the cases of perinatal Listeriosis result in stillbirth or neonatal death.)

Symptoms of Listeriosis may include mild flu like symptoms, headaches, muscle aches, fever, nausea and vomiting. If the infection spreads to the nervous system it can cause stiff neck, disorientation or convulsions. Infection can occur at any time during pregnancy, but it is most common during the third trimester when your immune system is somewhat suppressed. Be sure to contact your health care provider if you experience any of these symptoms.

To avoid getting listeriosis from cold cuts, reheat the cold cuts until steaming. In addition, avoid soft cheeses, refrigerated pates, cooked seafood, and practice safe food handling.

Answer 3

The preservatives are not good, but I have never hear that before. Are you sure it wasn't sushi he was talking about? That's not true. I've had four kids and a medical background and I can tell you that I've never ever heard of that. If that were true then what are you supposed to eat at lunch time? Deli meat does not have all the preservatives, so go for that if you are worried about the packaged stuff.

Answer 4

It is because it *may* contain Listeria, a bacteria that is not usually harmful to people, but can cause a miscarriage and other problems for the fetus.

You can eat lunch meat if you heat it to pipping hot first.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/food-aliment/listeria_e.html

This is also why you are told not to eat soft cheese.

However Listeria is also found in the air and water so you have to decide how paranoid you want to be.

Answer 5

You can eat it, but try to limit your intake, as processed meats like lunch meat contain high levels of sodium nitrate, which you should avoid.

Also, because of the way the meat is processed, there is a higher likelihood that it can breed bacteria like ecoli if it is close to its expiration date or has been sitting out for a while.

Answer 6

I am 28weeks pregnant with my 2nd daughter and this is something I have never herd or been warned of. At the end of the day there is lots of risks in different types of foods. As long as you are sensible and cook foods properly and make sure that foods are kept in the fridge and not left on the side, you are reducing the risk of any problems which may occur.

Answer 7

Lunch meats could sit around potentially for days getting nasty bacterias like Listeria. It is very difficult to medicate a pregnant woman.

Fast foods load up their products with nitrates and sodium based preservatives. These are nasty for your baby.

Answer 8

It actually has a bacteria cause Listeria which can lead to miscarriage. So if you eat it you can heat it in the microwave and the bacteria is killed. Nitrates are going to the extreme, you can not avoid every food when you are pregnant. Heat it up first and you are good to go.

Answer 9

Lunch meat is possessed. Its not good for the baby because the baby don't have an immune system yet. It was hard not to eat lunch meat but I did it. I enjoy them so much more now!

Answer 10

I would love to see the title and author of the book to which you are referring. My wife has gone through five healthy pregnancies and we have never heard that advice even once. Be aware that lunatics know how to write and often books are written by nuts that are championing some bizarre agenda and much of their advice is worthless or marginally sound at best. I would stick with mainstream pregnancy books and avoid religious quacks, New Age idiots, or holestic medicine lunatics.


Just a thought