Deli Meat, Cheese, and Eggs

[Deleted]

Okay, let's talk about deli meat, cheese, and eggs.  Please fill me in on the do's and don'ts... I am in the dark.

PS I just ate a Jersey Mike's sub, delish, but now I am worried.  

[countthestars]

I wouldn't stress about it. Some doctors tell you to avoid deli meat because of Listeria, but the chances of getting it are quite small. Fresh cut deli meat is supposed to be even less likely to carry it. You may want to ask them to heat it in the microwave before just to be on the safe side.

Cheese - you may want to avoid soft cheeses. But you'd be pretty hard pressed to find unpasteurized cheese in the US so I haven't avoided.

Eggs - not sure? I guess don't eat raw eggs? I am known to eat cookie dough and cake batter so don't follow my lead here.

[AlpineSlide]

I'm sure you're fine! I wouldn't worry if I were you.

My doctor said store-bought deli meat should be heated (microwaved until steam rises) before serving. She said sub shops are fine even without heating. Just grocery store packaged meat should be heated first.

Eggs should be fully cooked. Don't eat cookie dough, cake batter, or runny eggs.

Any pasteurized cheese is fine. Avoid blue cheese and soft unpasteurized cheese.

[Deleted]

Are most eggs sold pasteurized? I shop at Harris Teeter, do I need to look for a specific brand name or label?

[Velar Fricative]

I live on eggs, but I eat them hard-boiled or scrambled so I know they're fine. However, I did go on a cookie dough binge not too long ago. Baby is fine though. I've also been lazy when it comes to Caesar salads but dammit I craved those for a while too.

I don't normally eat cold cuts anyway. On the off chance I go to Subway, I just have them toast the sandwich.

The vast majority of cheese in this country is pasteurized - I'd only be concerned if I was at a farmer's market.

[urbancowgirl]

You'll find varying opinions here. Ultimately, you'll just have to do some research and decide for yourself.

I haven't made many changes to my diet. I was paranoid about deli meat in the beginning, but my doctor told me at one of my first appointments that I didn't need to heat cold cuts in the microwave or anything like that. Obviously, I wouldn't eat deli meat that's been sitting in the sun for hours, and I eat them as long as they're from a reputable seller. I'm a cheese lover and the only cheeses I eliminated were unpasteurized ones (hard to find in the US anyway). I only eat hard boiled or dry scrambled eggs, so I haven't made changes there.

[vmars]

I was told by my doctor no cold cuts so I am avoiding them. No unpasturized cheese. I don't like runny eggs so that's not an issue for me.

[simpsongal]

Didn't mean to worry you @beckettbabe - I have avoided deli meats. I could do a reputable sub shop but they don't tend to clean the slicing blades during a day - so I think there's some risk. But I'm eating frozen yogurt right now -- I didn't get the kind from the machine, but they did blend it to make it creamy.

I will probably eat an egg over medium w/a little runny yolk. I'm not sure which brands are pasturized -- I eat Eggland's Best.

I intend to eat a hotdog or two this summer but I'l supervise the cooking. I wouldn't eat one from a stand or ballpark, just to be safe. I'll eat tuna fish too, but in moderation.

Do what makes you comfortable and talk to your doc.

*I keep saying "will eat" and "may it" b/c my diet has been fried and dried crap thanks to M/S.

[annabear07]

In the first tri my mantra has been, do what I can to keep baby safe. So I've followed the rules as much as I can. The rest of the pregnancy I'll probably be a little more lax and use general food safety common sense. Most of all don't panic if you eat something you're not supposed to. I've eaten deli meat, blue cheese, and runny eggs accidentally or when nothing else was available and I'm still pregnant. Just go with what you are comfortable with!

[Deleted]

Jun 21, 2013 11:45:14 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Didn't mean to worry you @beckettbabe - I have avoided deli meats. I could do a reputable sub shop but they don't tend to clean the slicing blades during a day - so I think there's some risk. But I'm eating frozen yogurt right now -- I didn't get the kind from the machine, but they did blend it to make it creamy.

I will probably eat an egg over medium w/a little runny yolk. I'm not sure which brands are pasturized -- I eat Eggland's Best.

I intend to eat a hotdog or two this summer but I'l supervise the cooking. I wouldn't eat one from a stand or ballpark, just to be safe. I'll eat tuna fish too, but in moderation.

Do what makes you comfortable and talk to your doc.

*I keep saying "will eat" and "may it" b/c my diet has been fried and dried crap thanks to M/S.

No worries, just reminded me that I am eating for more than just myself and I need to be conscience of risks out there.

I am getting the impression that moderation and common sense seem to be the best guides.  

Thanks for all the input ladies!

[rt2008]

I eat Jimmy Johns just about weekly. My doc didn't mention anything at all about deli meat to me. The first I heard about some people not eating it was here. But I eat it all anyway.

[sweetminnesnowtan]

Jun 21, 2013 11:19:36 GMT -5 @beckettbabe said:

Okay, let's talk about deli meat, cheese, and eggs.  Please fill me in on the do's and don'ts... I am in the dark.

PS I just ate a Jersey Mike's sub, delish, but now I am worried.  

Deli meat- it's ok in moderation. It's especially better when it's freshly shaved- like at a trusted deli or JJ's.
Cheese- make sure its pasteurized, no soft cheeses.
Eggs- ones sold in stores should be pasteurized but you can check the label to be sure. No eating raw egg- so that means cook eggs fully, and no eating products with raw eggs in it (like mousse, alioli, etc).

Don't worry about the sub you just ate. Even lunch meats that aren't freshly shaven are fine in moderation. Remember that it's super rare that you will get listeria, and they don't tell you to stop eating fruits and veggies because of it!

[imoan]

Eat your deli meat, cheese and eggs.

[imoan]

Eat your deli meat, cheese and eggs.

[runblondie26]

The last two big listeria outbreaks were in spinach and cantaloupe. I still microwave my deli meat before I make a sandwich though because what's an extra 60 seconds to wait?

[runblondie26]

I still eat artificial sweeteners and my eggs over easy. We all have our own sticking points.

I think many dangers are overstated, so just do what makes you feel comfortable.

[Velar Fricative]

Yeah, if artificial sweeteners are bad my baby should have three heads already since that's what I add to my coffee every morning.

[halfpint]

I haven't avoided much. I don't eat a lot of deli meat or "salads" because, well, I just don't anyway. I have had a few Jimmy John's subs with cold cuts, but I won't eat them from our work cafeteria (they sit out for a couple of hours, and I'm iffy about how well they keep things temp controlled).

Eggs, I've tried to just make sure they're well cooked and not completely runny. I have been careful about raw eggs (no sneaking raw cookie dough).

I can't think of any cheese I've turned down. Most is pasteurized. I haven't gone crazy on an exotic cheese board, but now that I'm thinking about it, it sounds delicious.

I'm more careful about really washing my produce. I do avoid hot dogs and similar meats that aren't labeled "nitrate free". I'm careful about not eating TOO much fish, especially anything high in mercury. I eat cooked sushi rather than raw.

The only things I've really, truly made a conscious effort to cut back on are caffeine, alcohol and artificial sweeteners. That said, there have been a few times where I've had a small diet Coke, a cup of coffee or some small drinks of wine. Don't drive yourself crazy. Make smart decisions about what you're eating, but I wouldn't freak over a fingernail of feta.

[soozy87]

My doctor did not give me any food restrictions. I asked about the lunchmeat thing and she kinda laughed.

[snickers]

My doc also said just to heat the meat beforehand, but that the chances of contracting something would be very unlikely.

I always make sure my eggs are fully cooked also.

[Deleted]

i don't eat meat (vegetarian), but i eat eggs and cheese with abandon. EVEN QUESO. the rule is, according to my awesome doctors, just make sure eggs are cooked and the cheese is pasteurized. no prob, bob. i even found bleu cheese dressing made with pasteurized cheese.

[ErinExpat]

I think the risk of listeria is even higher for some vegetables than deli meat. Wasn't there a scare recently with spinach? I'm out of the States so I can't remember.

I don't avoid the deli meat, but I tend to toast/heat those sandwiches.

[iamgrace]

Avoid raw eggs and unpasturized cheeses and gas station deli sandwiches.

[mandapanda18]

Lol, I just ate subway for lunch, my doctor said everything (even sushi) is fine in moderation. He said I shouldn't be eating unpasturized cheese at a street fair or anything, but I wouldn't do that not pregnant.

[SallySparrow]

I still eat all these things. Sometimes I'll toast a subway sandwich before eating it, sometimes not. I never gave up any cheese, but as other people have said, most cheese here is pasteurized.

As for eggs, I get them from the chickens my grandma and grandpa raise. I only like them scrambled anyway.