Can you eat bologna while pregnant?

In this brief article we will answer the question “can you eat bologna when pregnant?”. We will also discuss why bologna is considered unhealthy.

Can you eat bologna when pregnant?

No, you can not eat bologna when pregnant. Due to its high fat and sodium content, Bologna should be avoided during pregnancy. Furthermore, it has a variety of unhealthy preservatives, including nitrites. 

Meats that are preserved or cooked in a manner that includes curing, salting, smoking, or the addition of other types of chemical preservatives are typically the types of meats that are referred to as processed meats.

Eating foods that are high in preservative content is linked to an increased risk of developing cancer by a number of health experts. 

One piece of bologna contains somewhere in the range of 301 to 480 milligrams of sodium. It contains a high amount of sodium, which puts you at risk for a variety of health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, and possibly even a stroke.

Bologna should also be avoided by pregnant women because it has the potential to be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria. This type of bacteria can frequently be discovered in foodstuffs that have not been properly handled or refrigerated. Bacterial infections during pregnancy can cause serious complications for both the mother and her unborn child.

Bologna is a pork-based sausage that features lard hunks and finely ground pork. In order to comply with the regulations imposed by the government of the United States, the bologna that is offered for sale in the American market must be finely ground and must not contain any chunks of lard that are readily apparent. 

Bologna can be created with beef, chicken, soy protein, venison, or turkey as an alternative to the traditional pork and beef filling. 

Celery seeds, allspice, black pepper, coriander, and nutmeg are among the most popular seasonings that can be found in Bologna sausage. Other common seasonings include allspice and celery seeds. 

Examples of popular Bologna varieties include:

  • Garlic Bologna, another name for German Bologna, is a common variant.
  • Meat prepared in the Pennsylvania Dutch style is known as “Lebanese bologna” Lebanese bologna has a similar texture and flavor to dried, smoked sausage.
  • In comparison to the various other types of Bologna, the Ring Bologna is a more compact version of the Bologna. Ring bologna is typically what is used to make pickled bologna, which is accomplished by soaking the bologna in vinegar along with various other pickling spices.
  • Lauantaimakkara is a Bologna dish prepared in the Finnish tradition.
  • Fat-laden Bologna is known as “Rag Bologna,” and it comes in the form of a long stick. Rag Bologna got its name from the fact that it was traditionally sold in markets after being rolled up in a  piece of cloth before being offered for sale.

Why is it believed that bologna is unhealthy?

Following are the reasons why Bologna is considered unhealthy:

  • Trans fats, of which bologna contains up to 5% naturally, have been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, premature aging, mood disturbances, and even death.
  • In addition to this, Bologna has a naturally high concentration of spermine, a chemical that has been linked to an increased risk of polyp development in the colon. In addition to this, it is thought to encourage the accumulation of subcutaneous fat and play a role in the development of cellulite.
  •  Nitrites have been linked to both the advantageous, blood vessel-dilating properties of the plant as well as the cancer-causing effects of processed meats. Nitrites are found in both plant foods and processed meats. 
  • During the manufacturing process, nitrites are added to bologna in order to inhibit the growth of bacteria that could potentially cause foodborne illness. Despite the importance of this treatment in preventing food poisoning, ingesting nitrites is harmful to human health. 
  • Our gut bacteria can potentially transform ingested nitrites into the potent carcinogens known as nitrosamines.

    The increased risk of developing cancers of the bladder, prostate, thyroid, endometrium, throat, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectal, pancreas, lungs, testicles, blood (leukemia), and kidneys have been linked to the usage of bologna and other processed meats. 
  • Consuming an excessive amount of processed meats is one way to increase one’s exposure to nitrites and nitrosamines, which has been linked to a decrease in lung function as well as an increased risk for the growth of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Other FAQs about Sausages that you may be interested in.

Does smoked sausage go bad?

Does pickled bologna go bad?

Does pepperoni go bad?

Can you boil frozen sausage?

Conclusion

In this brief article we have answered the question “can you eat bologna when pregnant?”. We have also discussed why bologna is considered unhealthy.

Reference

https://www.momjunction.com/articles/eat-bologna-while-you-are-pregnant

https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/bologna/