Can you eat kosher hot dogs when pregnant?

In this article we are going to answer can you eat kosher hot dogs when pregnant, what are kosher hot dogs, what is the risk of eating undercooked kosher hot dogs, how can you prepare a safe kosher hot dog, and what happens if you eat too much kosher hot dogs. 

Can you eat kosher hot dogs when pregnant?

Yes, you can eat kosher hot dogs when pregnant but always in moderation. You need to be sure that the kosher 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 kosher hot dogs once in a while to prevent complications for the baby’s and mom’s health. 

What are kosher hot dogs?

Kosher hot dogs are made from beef or poultry that has been slaughtered according to Jewish Law. Non-kosher hot dogs are normally made from pork. 

Kosher foods are prepared in a way that follows Jews traditions and biblical rules. The main idea of kosher food is to ensure that food is prepared to be fit and proper for consumption. 

According to Jewish rules, kosher meats can come only from animals that have cloven hooves and chew their cuds. These include farm-raised cattle, sheep, goats, and some domestic poultry. 

To certify kosher meat, a special Kosher supervision agency must certify plants and ensure all processes are followed according to their rules. Meat normally meets USDA requirements apart from kosher requirements. 

Livestock must not be stunned prior to slaughter and meat from these animals is then salted and thoroughly rinsed to remove all impurities. 

What is the risk of eating undercooked hot dog sausages when pregnant?

If you eat kosher 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, kosher 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, kosher 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 kosher 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 kosher hot dog that is safe to eat?

To be safe you need to heat your kosher 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 kosher 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 kosher 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 kosher hot dogs?

Kosher 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. 

What are some brands of kosher sausages?

There are several brands of kosher sausages that are made from beef meat and prepared under specific guidelines. Kosher food is not easy to find but here are some brands for you to look for 

Other FAQs about Sausages that you may be interested in.

Can you eat linguica without cooking?

Can you eat smoked sausage without cooking it?

Can you eat smoked kielbasa without cooking it?

Can you eat sausage without cooking?

Conclusion

This article answered can you eat kosher hot dogs when pregnant, what are kosher hot dogs, what is the risk of eating undercooked kosher hot dogs, how can you prepare a safe kosher hot dog, and what happens if you eat too much kosher hot dogs.

Citation

​​https://www.thehotdog.org/what-is-a-kosher-hot-dog/

https://www.babymed.com/food-and-nutrition/hot-dogs-and-frankfurters-during-pregnancy-are-they-safe#modal

https://www.pregnancymagazine.com/questions/ask-doctor-hot-dogs-safe-pregnant-moms

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!