Can you eat IKEA hot dogs when pregnant?
In this article we are going to answer can you eat IKEA hot dogs when pregnant, what is IKEA, is IKEA hot dogs healthy to eat when pregnant, what is the risk of eating undercooked hot dog sausage, and what happens if you eat too many IKEA hot dogs and how can you prepare a healthy hot dog sausage when pregnant.
Can you eat IKEA hot dogs when pregnant?
Yes, you can eat IKEA hot dogs when pregnant but always in moderation. Also, you need to be sure that the sausage has been cooked thoroughly with an internal temperature of 160 F or 71 C to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
If you have gestational diabetes, blood pressure problems, or rapid weight gain, you should eat IKEA hot dogs once in a while to prevent complications for the baby’s and mom’s health.
What is IKEA?
IKEA is a multinational group of companies founded in Sweden. They sell ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchenware, and home accessories. IKEA is the biggest furniture company in the world, with over 400 stores worldwide.
They offer a range of food products inspired by Swedish traditions. The menu varies from country to country.
Is IKEA hot and healthy to eat when pregnant?
No, IKEA hot dogs are not healthy to eat when pregnant. It doesn’t have any nutritional value. IKEA hot dog ingredients are mechanically separated chicken, beef, water, modified starch, salt, wheat, flour, spice wheat gluten, sodium erythorbate, garlic powder, sodium nitrate, and smoke.
1 IKEA hot dog contains:
- 230 calories
- 8 grams of protein
- 12 grams of total fat
- 4 grams of saturated fat
- 35 mg of cholesterol
- 22 grams of carbohydrates
- 840 mg of sodium
IKEA sausage ingredients are not healthy. Sodium erythorbate is a preservative used to cure hot dog sausages but it has been linked to heart disease and cancer.
What is the risk of eating undercooked hot dog sausages when pregnant?
If you eat hot dog sausages that have not been cooked fully or you didn’t reheat after being cooked, there is a risk of food poisoning.
According to the FDA, hot dog sausages can be contaminated with listeria after being processed and packaged at the plant. You need to reheat and cook it always.
Although nowadays it’s very difficult to catch an infection, sausages are a risk. The three main diseases you can contract if you eat uncooked deli meat are toxoplasmosis, salmonella, and listeriosis.
Listeria monocytogenes are the main bacteria that can be found in undercooked sausages. It causes listeriosis. If you let the bacteria go too far, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and other health problems.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, approximately 2,5000 people will get infected with listeria every year.
It means that it’s very rare to get infected but pregnant women are in a more delicate condition and need to be a little more careful because it could lead to fatal health conditions.
Toxoplasma Gondii is the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. For a normal, healthy person, it usually doesn’t cause any symptoms but for pregnant women, it’s too risky, it can cause serious health problems. One important thing to add is that once you contract toxoplasmosis you can’t contract it again.
Salmonella is a bacteria that can be very dangerous in pregnant women. It also causes digestive symptoms like the other pathogens listed above. One important thing about salmonella is that it can cause bacteremia, a condition where there is bacteria in the blood and can be fatal to pregnant women.
So why are pregnant women more likely to get infected? Because their immune system is compromised and does not work as well as for a healthy person. Also, remember that while the baby is not fully developed, the baby it’s at risk too.
Symptoms include
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chills and fevers
- Muscle pain
- In pregnant women, it may cause flu-like symptoms with fever and chills
How can I prepare a hot dog that is safe to eat?
To be safe you need to heat your hot dog sausage to at least 160 F, you can use a thermometer or wait until it is steaming hot. You can use
- Oven: bake your hot dog for about 10 minutes at over 160 F.
- Boil: boil for about 2 to 3 minutes until is steaming hot
- Use a microwave: it is not the best option but heats the hot dog sausage for about a minute or two. Use a thermometer to be sure it is over 160 F inside.
- Use a grill: just make sure that is over 160 F inside.
What happens if you eat too many IKEA hot dogs?
IKEA hot dogs can lead to rapid weight gain because of their sugar, calorie, fat, and sodium content. The consumption of more junk food than healthy food can be fatal to pregnant women because it can interfere with proper fetal development.
If you gain too much weight during pregnancy there are several complications mom and baby can suffer.
- Gestational Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Complications during birth
- Baby health
Gestational Diabetes
You can develop gestational diabetes, a condition where glucose or sugar in the blood is way too high and insulin can’t work correctly. You may need to take medication and the mother can develop diabetes even after the baby is born.
High Blood pressure
You can develop eclampsia and preeclampsia. Both can lead to mother and baby complications and even death.
Complications during birth
If you gain too much weight it’s more likely that you end up in cesarean because vaginal birth tends to be more difficult with excess weight. Also, babies of mothers who gain too much weight are usually bigger. It can also lead to premature birth.
Baby health
Moms that gain too much weight tend to have babies with high birth weight and these babies have more risk of being obese and developing diabetes when older. The lack of nutrients in junk food can interfere with proper organ development.
Babies of moms that didn’t follow a healthy diet during pregnancy have more risk of behavior disorders like depression, attention deficit disorder, and poor learning. Also, a lack of nutrients in a mother’s diet has been connected with autism.
You can choose a vegan IKEA hot dog for a healthier meal.
Other FAQs about Sausages that you may be interested in.
Can you defrost pigs in blankets in the microwave?
Conclusion
This article answered can you eat IKEA hot dogs when pregnant, what is IKEA, is IKEA hot dogs healthy to eat when pregnant, what is the risk of eating undercooked hot dog sausage, what happens if you eat too many IKEA hot dogs, and how can you prepare a healthy hot dog sausage when pregnant.
Citation
https://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/ikea/hot-dog
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/review-it-costco-hot-dog-vs-ikea-hot-dog
