Can you eat Italian dry salami when pregnant?
In this article we are going to answer: can you eat Italian dry salami when pregnant, what is Italian dry salami, what are deli meats, what is the risk of eating Italian dry salami when pregnant and how to safely eat Italian dry salami when pregnant.
Can you eat Italian dry salami when pregnant?
Yes, you can eat Italian dry salami when pregnant but to be safe, you need to cook it thoroughly or heat it until steaming hot. According to the FDA, the recommendation is to avoid deli meats like salami but it is safe enough if you cook them.
What is Italian dry salami?
Salami is a type of Italian sausage that has been previously cured. It is dry and hard compared to other types of sausage. Italian dry salami is made from ground meat mixed with herbs and seasoning stuffed into a casing, then dry and cured until it achieves the desired texture.
Italian dry salami is usually made with pork meat but there are some varieties made with beef, venison, poultry, or other meats. The mixture usually includes meat and fat mixed with herbs and seasoning like salt, garlic, or vinegar.
How many types of Italian Salami are there?
There are different varieties of Italian dry salami that are made all around Italy. Many are named after some of their ingredients.
Genoa Salami
Is hard, dry-cured meat that is made in the Genoa region of Italy. It is usually made of pork meat, salt, garlic, pepper, fennel seeds, and wine.
Finocchiona Salami
Finocchiona Salami is a spicy salami made in Tuscany. Is dry-cured and made with fennel seeds and black pepper.
Milanese Salami
Also known as Milano Salami is made with a combination of pork and beef meat and rice-sized grains of pork fat. It is red and sweeter than Genoa salami.
Pepperoni
Salami Cotto
Salami Cotto is a specialty of the Piedmont region of Italy. It is cooked or after curing and seasoned with garlic and peppercorns.
Soppressata
Is one of the most known Italian Dry Salami. It is dry-cured, pressed pork salami. It can be seasoned with garlic, pepper, fennel, oregano, or basil.
What are deli meats?
Deli meats refer to precooked, ready-to-serve meatloaves or sausages made from pork, ham, beef, or any other meat. They are generally available as loaves, canned, sliced, or pre-packed vacuum-packed portions.
They are also known as cold cuts or lunch meats.
What is the risk of eating Italian dry salami when pregnant?
Although nowadays it’s very difficult to catch an infection, you should avoid eating undercooked deli meats when pregnant. The process of curation of Italian dry Salami makes it hard for bacteria to grow.
The three main diseases you can contract if you eat uncooked deli meats are toxoplasmosis, salmonella, and listeriosis.
Listeriosis
Listeria Monocytogenes is the main bacteria that can be found in undercooked ham. 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.
Pregnant women and their newborns, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get seriously ill.
Toxoplasmosis
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
Salmonella is a bacteria that can be very dangerous in pregnant women. It also causes digestive symptoms like the other pathogens listed above.
Symptoms appear between one hour to 6 hours after you have eaten the contaminated food, they are usually mild. 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 of food poisoning include
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chills and fevers
- Muscle pain
- In pregnant women, it may cause flu-like symptoms with fever and chills
How to safely eat Italian dry salami when pregnant?
If you are craving Italian dry salami when pregnant you can safely eat it if you cook it thoroughly. Even though the process of fermentation and drying prevents bacteria from growing it is best to heat it until steaming hot. Try to avoid the microwave because there is no proof that it kills bacteria.
Here is a link to 5 genius ways to use Italian Salami, all safe for you when pregnant.
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 Italian dry salami when pregnant, what is Italian dry salami, what are deli meats, what is the risk of eating Italian dry salami when pregnant and how to safely eat Italian dry salami when pregnant.
Citation
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/salami-pregnancy#takeaway
