Can you eat Johnsonville brats when pregnant?

In this article we are going to answer can you eat Johnsonville brats when pregnant, can you eat Johnsonville brats when pregnant, what in Johnsonville, what is the difference between brats and sausages, what is the risk of eating brats when pregnant, and are Johnsonville brats when pregnant. 

Can you eat Johnsonville brats when pregnant?

Yes, you can eat Johnsonville brats but you need to cook them thoroughly. The recommendation is similar to deli meat, do not eat anything raw because there is a high risk of food poisoning. 

For sausage or brats made with lamb, pork, beef, or veal it has to be heated or fully cooked to an internal temperature of 160 F (71 C).

What is Johnsonville?

Johnsonville is a company that was started in 1945 by Ralph F and Alice Stayer as a butcher shop in Johnsonville, Wisconsin. They use an old family recipe for their delicious sausage. The recipe became known as the sausage with the big taste and their legacy was born. 

In 1970 they started selling the big taste Johnsonville sausage in trucks throughout Wisconsin and in 1978 Ralph C Stayer became president of the company and opened a second plant. In the mid-1980s, sales increased and distribution expanded to 47 states.

Now, it is the most popular brand of sausages in the United States. Their award-winning products include: brats, italian, smoked, breakfast, and snacks. They sell in 50 states of the United States and in 45 countries. 

What is the difference between brats and sausage?

Brats are a type of sausage but not all sausages are brats. Sausages are products consisting of minced or ground meat stuffed into a casing. 

Brats or bratwurst are a type of German sausage. It consists typically of pork and veal but can also be made with beef and veal or any combination of meat. 

They are distinct because they use a special condiment named marjoram. It can also include ginger, paprika, sage, cumin, nutmeg, coriander and caraway. 

Brats are sold as raw, fresh sausage. You need to grill, broil or simmer in beers (popular preparation in Wisconsin) up to 160 F or 71 C to safely eat it when pregnant.

Can you eat brats simmered in beer when pregnant?

Yes you can eat brats simmer in beer but it all depends in the beer you are choosing. You can choose a alcohol free beer to make it more safe. Even if alcohol can be reduced when being cooked according to the CDC there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption when pregnant. 

What is the risk of eating brats when pregnant?

If you eat brats 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, brats 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

  • Náusea
  • Vomiting
  • Chills and fevers
  • Muscle pain
  • In pregnant women, it may cause flu-like symptoms with fever and chills 

Are Johnsonville brats healthy to eat when pregnant?

No, Johnsonville brats sausages are not considered healthy. About 80% of the calories come from unhealthy saturated fat. Eating processed meats like brats and sausages has been linked to an increase in colon cancer and heart disease because they contain nitrites and nitrates. 

One Johnsonville Brat original contains pork, water, corn syrup, pork broth, with natural flavoring, salt, dextrose, natural flavors, BHA, propyl gallate and citric acid. Based on a 2,000 calorie diet, just one brat can give you 38% of saturated fat, 31% of total fat and 28% of sodium. 

Other FAQs about Sausages that you may be interested in.

Can dogs eat sausage?

Can dogs eat salami?

Can you cook frozen sausages

Can you defrost pigs in blankets in the microwave?

Conclusion

This article answered can you eat Johnsonville brats when pregnant, can you eat Johnsonville brats when pregnant, what in Johnsonville, what is the difference between brats and sausages, what is the risk of eating brats when pregnant, and are Johnsonville brats when pregnant. 

Citation

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bratwurst-vs-sausage#quiz-0

https://www.johnsonville.com/lines/brats.html

https://www.hellomotherhood.com/article/450687-can-pregnant-people-eat-brats/

https://blacktailnyc.com/can-pregnant-women-have-beer-brats/

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