Can you eat kangaroo when pregnant?

In this article we are going to answer can you eat kangaroo when pregnant, what is a kangaroo, is kangaroo healthy to eat when pregnant, and what is the risk of eating kangaroo when pregnant and how can you add kangaroo to your diet when pregnant. 

Can you eat kangaroo when pregnant?

Yes, you can eat kangaroo when pregnant. Kangaroo is a protein with less than 2% of fat which makes it perfect to add to your diet when pregnant. 

Kangaroo meat should be fully cooked like other meats to prevent food-borne illnesses. According to Animal Liberation and Voiceless kangaroo meat taken from supermarket shelves contain salmonella and E.coli. These two bacterias can be very dangerous for pregnant women. 

What is a kangaroo?

Kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae. Kangaroo refers to the largest species from this family

• Red Kangaroo

• Antilopine Kangaroo

• Eastern Grey Kangaroo

• Western Grey Kangaroo

They are native to Australia and New Guinea. The smallest of this species is named wallabies while the intermediate size is known as wallabies and the largest is kangaroos. 

Kangaroos have large hind legs, large feet, and long muscular tails for balance with small heads. They are a very important animal in Australia. Kangaroos are a symbol and appear on the Australian coat of arms and in some currency of the country. 

Wild kangaroos are shot for meat, leather hides, and to protect grazing land. Kangaroo meat has a lot of health benefits for human consumption compared to other meats such as beef and lamb because of its low level of fat. 

Because of its richness of nutrients, kangaroo meat is legally exported to many countries. However, it is not considered kosher meat for Jews but it is considered halal for Muslims. 

Is kangaroo healthy to eat when pregnant?

Yes, kangaroo meat is considered a very healthy type of protein source. Kangaroo meat has been used for years as food for Australians. It is considered high protein meat with very low-fat content, about 2% of fat. 

It has a high concentration con CLA compared to other meats and it is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. 

100 grams of raw kangaroo meat contains about 420 calories, 22 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, and 0.5 grams of carbohydrates. It is considered low in fat and saturated fat, an excellent source of protein, an excellent source of iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. 

Kangaroos are super active animals that is why they produce lean, high-quality meat. Its meat is also an excellent source of iron, in one stick you can get as much as one-third of your daily needs of iron which is very important when you are pregnant. 

What is the risk of eating kangaroo when pregnant?

As with other meats, a kangaroo can be contaminated with some bacteria such as salmonella, listeria, toxoplasma, and E.coli. Kangaroo meat should be completely cooked before you eat it up to 163 F to prevent food poisoning. 

The three main diseases you can contract are toxoplasmosis, salmonella, and listeriosis. 

Listeria monocytogenes are the main bacteria that can be found in kangaroo meat. 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 you add kangaroo to your diet when pregnant?

Kangaroo meat can be eaten like any other meat. You can find different presentations such as 

• Kangaroo steak

• Kangaroo Fillet

• Diced Kangaroo

• Kangaroo Mince

• Kangaroo Burger

• Kanga Bangas (sausages)

• BBQ plum Kangaroo

• Kangaroo meatballs

Follow this link for a video on how to cook kangaroo filets. 

Conclusion

This article answered Can you eat kangaroo when pregnant? What is a kangaroo? Is kangaroo healthy to eat when pregnant? What is the risk of eating kangaroo when pregnant and how can you add kangaroo to your diet when pregnant.

Citation

https://www.nib.com.au/the-checkup/what-to-eat-and-avoid-while-pregnant