Confused about turkey - what about fresh sliced turkey from the deli (not packaged)

[Anonymous]

I'm not a big deli meat/meat person in general, but occasionally we do buy sliced turkey fresh from the deli, usually Whole Foods. I like to make my daughter turkey avocado wraps for lunch sometimes, and was wondering if that kind of turkey, sliced fresh from the breast in front of you, is safe for pregnant women or is it only packaged deli meat you should avoid? I haven't been able to find anything online - it is all about packaged deli meats.

[Anonymous]

Nope, you have to avoid all of it. Or microwave it for 2 minutes before eating it.

[Anonymous]

As I understand it all deli meat (meat that comes from the deli - prepackaged or not - and was once cooked/cured) is a potential vehicle for listeria. However, listeria is very rare and you can eliminate the risk of listeria by heating your deli meat in the microwave. When I want to have a roast beef sandwich, for example, I zap my roast beef in the microwave for a minute or two until it hits 170 degrees (different temps for different types of meats).

[Anonymous]

My doctor said this whole issue is overblown and he doesn't worry too much about cold cuts or microwaving them. He said just be confident in your sources and don't eat any meat that you think could be spoiled.

[Anonymous]

basically anything that comes cooked and vacuum sealed - even if they unpack and slice at the deli. the issue is that there may be cross contamination at the packaging plant. So if you're at a deli that roasts their own in house and slices it for sandwiches (like Cafe Phillips downtown) you're fine, but if they cut it out of plastic and slice it, not so much. agree on the 'know your sources' advice, though. it *can* happen anywhere but some places just have better practices than others.

[Anonymous]

I was told that the turkey breast at Whole Foods is okay as they cook it there and don't use any preservatives. If that is the case, you should be okay. If it is prepackaged or other deli meat (with the preservatives, then it isn't ok.

[Anonymous]

Listeria can live even in temps less than 40 degrees. There was a listeria outbreak last summer when I was pregnant related to those prepackaged apple slices. The danger is from the slicer. Whether it's at whole foods or some sketchy grocery store they probably don't wash the slicer more than once a day. Therefore, little pieces of meat are shaved off and sit in the slicer where they can grow bacteria. Some doctors say know your source, but for me it just wasn't worth it to risk my baby's life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Listeria can live even in temps less than 40 degrees. There was a listeria outbreak last summer when I was pregnant related to those prepackaged apple slices. The danger is from the slicer. Whether it's at whole foods or some sketchy grocery store they probably don't wash the slicer more than once a day. Therefore, little pieces of meat are shaved off and sit in the slicer where they can grow bacteria. Some doctors say know your source, but for me it just wasn't worth it to risk my baby's life.

Yes, because the rest of us are all about risking our babies' lives.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all - it sound as if it is not worth it. I have abstained so far and since I don't eat much meat anyway, and eat deli type meat even less, it doesn't seem that big of a deal to avoid it.

I assume the turkey breast served at Thanksgiving is fine because that is not sliced until you serve at (at home, and has obviously been cooked right there)?

[Anonymous]

Are you also avoiding frozen waffles?

FYI:

http://babyparenting.about.com/b/2009/09/08/eggo-waffles-recalled-due-to-listeria.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was told that the turkey breast at Whole Foods is okay as they cook it there and don't use any preservatives. If that is the case, you should be okay. If it is prepackaged or other deli meat (with the preservatives, then it isn't ok.

Preservatives don't cause listeria and food cooked and prepared on premise can also have listeria. The question is more about how the food is handled. How is it stored, was it cooked to the required temperature to kill listeria and other food born illness, has it been washed (in the case of fresh veggies or fruit), and what has it been exposed to (cross contamination)? Of course, preservatives have their own issues and in my first trimester my doctor said to avoid nitrates and phosphates that are often found in preserved food. Also, don't assume because veggies and fruits are packaged that they've been washed - wash it yourself. This isn't just about listeria which is relatively rare; all of these variables impact your exposure to food born illness like salmonella, e coli, and other disagreeable buggies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you also avoiding frozen waffles?

FYI:

http://babyparenting.about.com/b/2009/09/08/eggo-waffles-recalled-due-to-listeria.htm

I'm not avoiding frozen waffles (though I don't eat them that often). Those get heated to a pretty high temperature in the toaster oven though, so I would think it would kill any bacteria.

[Anonymous]

Soft-serve ice cream (i.e. Dairy Queen, etc.) is also considered a listeria risk.

[Anonymous]

For an alternative view - I'm eating sliced turkey breast from the deli (and turkey sandwiches from potbelly's), frozen waffles daily, and just had a dairy queen ice cream while in mexico and am not worried about any of it. Did the same with my first pregnancy and no issues.

[Anonymous]

Salads too.

http://www.marlerblog.com/case-news/fresh-express-announces-recall-of-veggie-lovers-salad-due-to-listeria-risk/