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Where do you draw the line with deli meat and listeria risk?
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Anonymous
| Is the toasting enough? I read that to kill bacteria/parasites, it has to be steaming or heated at something like 160 degrees. I don't think that is achieved by toasting, is it? |
Anonymous
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Here's the thing. In the pretty highly unlikely event that, say, the sliced turkey at a deli counter has listeria in it, the listeria is very likely to get spread alllllllll over the deli counter into potentially every other thing there. So you could go to a deli and order a veggie sandwich or a grilled chicken sandwich and still be exposed to listeria.
That's why this is one of those things I gave up on to simplify my life. My need for easy protein was more important to me than the very very small risk that I might be exposed to listeria. But if you disagree with me, and I know many do, this has all the info about how hot things need to be heated to kill listeria and what Subway recommends pregnant women order, etc: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/listeria.html |
Anonymous
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I think it's really up to you and your comfort level. My dr. said that all of the things on the No-No list as a result of bacteria are discretionary based on what you usually consume. He said that if you usually eat sushi, soft cheese, deli meats, etc. it is likely that your body already has some immunity to the bacteria that affect these things. On that advice, I have eaten sushi (yes raw) and soft cheese, but avoided deli meats b/c I just don't really eat them regularly. I have had 3 deli meat sandwiches so far (now 28 weeks), all of which i've eaten warmed - toasted at subway and quiznos and panini style at the other place.
Where do you work? are the only things near you sandwich shops - or is that just what you prefer? If there are other options, I recommend salad with some cheese, tofu and/or meat on top - like bacon, grilled chicken, etc. Add a side of yogurt - that adds protien. I bought some juice box containers of soy milk and regular milk for an afternoon snack. I also like to take string cheese as a snack. You could also try getting chinese food - some places make "light" style menu items that aren't deep fried - so you can get the protien without all the grease. |
Anonymous
You lost me - why is heating a sandwich not an option? You put it in the office microwave and if someone asks (which they won't), you say, "I prefer hot sandwiches." |
Anonymous
| I just ate it whenever I wanted... |
Anonymous
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Like the PP above said, some delis actually have roasted turkeys and roast beef that they cook on the premises and carve up in front of you; both of those are fine.
Also, tuna isn't verboten; I think the limit is once a week. So I try to alternate between the turkey sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, and tuna sandwiches. But my OB also said that you can freely eat deli meat if you just give it a zap in the microwave for a minute. Sometimes I do; sometimes I don't! |
Anonymous
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My DH had a very serious food poisoning case when I was pregnant with DC#1. His client lost her baby due to listeria poisoning from pate. Everybody says they can't wait to deliver to have a glass of wine. For me, I COULD NOT WAIT to have a good ol' Italian sub! Listeria is everywhere, even on leafy greens. I drew the line there. When he started getting on me about lettuce and salads, I had had enough! I agreed to eat mixed baby greens on the theory they could be washed better, but sigh...
Good luck to you pregnant mommas. I have two now and am done (and now can't eat Italian subs because I will gain weight! Welcome to 40+!). |
Anonymous
| I had Subway almost everyday during my pregnancy. It was what I craved and after losing 15 pounds in my first trimester, I HAD to eat something. |
Anonymous
| Healthy Choice has these new lunches that don't require a freezer, and they're not half bad. I have been taking those with me b/c I also have limited lunch options (only sandwich shops near work!). The thing I cannot wait to eat after pregnancy is not wine, but raw and uncooked cheeses! |
Anonymous
I can only assume you don't work in an office, so I'll explain... I would rather not "steam" my entire sandwich (lettuce, tomato, mayo...) and it doesn't solve the listeria problem to go back to the office and only take out the meat to reheat because it would have already contaminated the entire sandwich. More importantly, not everyone eats lunch IN the office. Which is why this is not always an option. I've been going to lunch with the same people long enough that when we go to Potbelly's, together, they know I don't prefer hot sandwiches, and some of them are women ttc. I was simply pointing out that the post with the seemingly simple solution of zapping lunch meat might not be appropriate for all lunch situations. |
Anonymous
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I found delis to be very difficult. I stuck with mainly vegetarian options when going out (but you have to be careful to avoid soft cheeses). I still remember one day, I got my sandwich, came back to my desk, and realized it had feta cheese on it. I was starving and getting dizzy and nauseous and I burst out crying. Can you imagine the sight? A pregnant woman sitting in her cubicle, crying, picking out small pieces of feta cheese from her sandwich.
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Anonymous
Now this is going overboard to Crazytown. That's where I would draw the line. PS. Feta here is pasteurized. |
Anonymous
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Most soft cheese in the US are pasteurized and I would hazard to guess that unless you are going to Cowgirl Creamery to get a sandwich, all deli cheeses going into sandwiches are pasteurized.
The problem with deli meat is that you don't know how long it has been sitting around.. the longer, the increased risk of listeria. I ate toasted potbelly sandwiches throughout my pregnancy as I couldn't have made it through work if I didn't, even though I knew the toasting wasn't hot enough to actually KILL the bacteria. That being said, potbelly's is going through the meat so fast, it's not sitting on the counter for days and days and days. With respect to cured meats, there isn't a listeria risk so much as the increased levels of nitrates (same as with hot dogs). So you won't want to eat too much during your pregnancy. There are also risks involved with egg / tuna / chicken salads -- salmonella poisoning when the mayo goes bad. There's risks involved with everything, including walking out your front door to go to work. It's all a matter of weighing the risk and deciding whether it's worth it. I indulged throughout my pregnancy: deli meats, cured meats, chicken salad, wine, and even sushi. Always from reputable places and in moderation. |
Anonymous
| About 2,500 per year in the U.S. contract Listeriosis, about 1/3 of them are pregnant women. Be cautious if you must, but it's not a huge risk. |
Anonymous
No doubt, sister! |