Salami etc. during pregnancy, is it safe if I freeze it first?

[sarah.connors]

I seem to find a lot of conflicting information about eating salami online (Im talking about the salami you can buy thats ready to eat and doesnt need to be heated before you eat it usually). Some advice says its ok to eat if its marked "ready to eat", some advice says its safe if you freeze it first, some advice says freezing isnt enough and it shouldnt be consumed at all? Im so confused. Its so difficult finding something to eat with this nausea, and almost everything I want to eat is like salty stuff, and the idea of eating ham and such makes me want to barf I know cooked salami is considered safe, but I dont want anything with it cooked... I dont want hot food, I want a sandwich wich is like cold. Its one of the few things I can bear the thought of eating, except saltines which really has 0 iron or nutrients in it.

So, what do I really need to do to the salami before I eat it, could I cook it and then chill it and eat it on a sandwhich later? Freeze it? What? How big are the chances of contracting something bad if you do it eat it?

 

[Shanivy]

If in doubt I go by the NHS for food. The advice changes so often!

NHS currently say "Be cautious with cold cured meats in pregnancy. Many cold meats, such as salami, prosciutto, chorizo and pepperoni, are not cooked, they're just cured and fermented. This means there's a risk they contain toxoplasmosis-causing parasites"

I'd say the risk of that is very low really. But it's up to you. I'm not eating salami right now but I'm over cautious. I'm not sure if freezing would help or not sorry xx

 

[Shepherdess]

this is the one thing where the info is really confusing. I love salami but I'm only having it cooked in pasta/paella/toasties atm as I didn't want to risk it. would love to just sit with a packet and eat it

 

[sarah.connors]

If in doubt I go by the NHS for food. The advice changes so often!

NHS currently say "Be cautious with cold cured meats in pregnancy. Many cold meats, such as salami, prosciutto, chorizo and pepperoni, are not cooked, they're just cured and fermented. This means there's a risk they contain toxoplasmosis-causing parasites"

I'd say the risk of that is very low really. But it's up to you. I'm not eating salami right now but I'm over cautious. I'm not sure if freezing would help or not sorry xx

But I think Ive seen somewhere on there about freezing it for 4 days? hm

 

[sarah.connors]

"For ready-to-eat meats, you can reduce any risk from parasites by freezing cured or fermented meats for four days at home before you eat them. Freezing kills most parasites and makes the meat safer to eat."

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/foods-to-avoid-pregnant/

 

[Shanivy]

Lol so you did too! Literally the next paragraph from what I pasted haha. Never heard of freezing it before xx