Can Pregnant Women Eat Beef Jerky?
Can pregnant women eat beef jerky?. Is beef jerky safe during pregnancy?.
You can eat meat as you like! Many people do it; the important thing is that it is cooking it well and never leave his food in contact with raw meats.
Which meat products can you eat during your pregnancy?
Can you eat all meat products during pregnancy? Which types are you allowed or not, and what are the risks if you are pregnant? From salami to farmer’s sausage.
During your pregnancy, you can eat meat as long as it is well done. This also applies to meat products: preferably take only the variants that are cooked, roasted, or baked. Raw, smoked, or dried meat products are better avoided, according to the Nutrition Center.
It is clear that eating raw meat is not wise, but the opinions differ on dried, smoked, and processed meat products.
This can be not very clear. It is often said that you can eat raw ham, smoked meat, and dried sausage when they have been processed, but it is better to be as careful as possible because you do not know whether the meat is heated high enough despite the processing.
Also, keep in mind that with processed food, some salt, sugar, or other preservatives have always been added. Be aware of this. Ultimately you decide what you do and do not eat.
If in doubt, you can always contact your obstetrician, doctor, or nutrition consultant.
Are you eating consciously?
You can usually eat processed meats when you are pregnant, because they are low in bacteria, and the added substances ensure that bacteria are less likely to survive. That does not mean that processed meat is also healthy. Therefore always read the labels to become aware of the additions. Note added salt, sugar, E-numbers or other preservatives.
You are not allowed to eat raw meat during your pregnancy:
No, prefer not to eat raw meat. The parasite toxoplasmosis can occur in raw meat. This parasite can cause toxoplasmosis infection. Most women do not notice toxoplasmosis, but possible complaints include swollen lymph nodes in the neck, fever, general malaise, eye infection, and skin rash. An unborn child can get the disease through the placenta if the mother has toxoplasmosis just before or during pregnancy.
The earlier in the pregnancy, the disease occurs, the higher the damage will be for the child. The consequences vary from miscarriage to congenital disabilities. So pay attention and avoid raw and not well-cooked meat, such as filet Americain, tartare, tea sausage, roast beef, beef sausage, carpaccio, and half-cooked steak.
Even when you are barbecuing or abroad, it is wise to pay attention to whether your meat is well done. Not always the most delicious choice, but the most responsible choice for yourself and your child.
Raw ham during your pregnancy
Like other raw meat, fresh ham can contain the parasite toxoplasmosis gondii. With raw ham, you can think of serrano ham, Parma ham, Iberico ham, burger ham, and prosciutto. You can eat fresh ham if it is well heated, for example, on a pizza. You can eat other types of ham, such as shoulder ham, york ham, or gammon ham.
Smoked meat during your pregnancy
Nowadays, meat is mainly smoked to make it more durable, but also to give it more flavor. The Nutrition Center recommends that you do not eat smoked meat during your pregnancy. With smoked meat, there is a chance that it has not been heated enough so that the parasite toxoplasmosis remains alive in the meat. The opportunity that smoked meat is contaminated with toxoplasmosis is minimal, but an infection can have serious consequences. It is therefore advised to avoid any risk.
Nonetheless, smoked meats such as beef smoke, horse smoke, smoked chicken, and smoked ham are usually not a risk. They are often processed and well heated. Many types of smoked meat do contain a lot of salt, which is not recommended.
Dry sausage during your pregnancy
The listeria bacteria can also occur in dry (fermented) sausage, which is why it is better not to eat it according to the Dutch Nutrition Center. Dry sausage is made from raw meat. Therefore, instead leave dried sausage such as salami, chorizo, sausage, and cervelat sausage. If the dry sausage is well heated, you can eat it. So pizza salami or fried chorizo is no problem.
Bacon, pancetta and breakfast bacon
Bacon, pancetta, and breakfast bacon contain a lot of salt, and you can eat moderately during your pregnancy. If the bacon is fried in advance, there is no risk of a listeria infection.
You are allowed to the liver (products) during your pregnancy
You can eat liver and liver products, such as pate and liver sausage, but only to a limited extent because of the large amount of vitamin A, that is present. Too much vitamin A increases the chance of congenital disabilities. You do not get too much vitamin A if you avoid liver and liver products. Occasionally livers sausage, Berliner sausage, liver cheese, liver pate, or pâté is possible. Eat a maximum of one liver product per day of a maximum of fifteen grams (one sandwich with spread or liver sausage, for example).
Beta-carotene and vitamin A
Beta-carotene (also called pro-vitamin A) is converted in our body into vitamin A. It ensures, just like vitamin A, excellent resistance and is very important for vision, but also for healthy bones, teeth, skin and growth. There are indications that beta-carotene has anti-oxidative properties and protects body cells against free radicals. Free radicals are substances that can cause damage to cells.
In contrast to Vitamin A, there is no recommended daily allowance (RDA) for beta-carotene. In the body, it is converted into vitamin A as needed, so you can never get too much.
Beta-carotene is found in (dark) green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, and in cabbages. Carrots also contain a lot of beta-carotene, just like mangoes and mandarins. Beta-carotene gives the characteristic beautiful color to orange and yellow fruit and vegetables.
Vacuum-packed meat products during your pregnancy
You have to be careful with vacuum-packed fish, but less with vacuum-packed meats. Here too, the listeria bacteria is regularly found, but not in harmful quantities. They can, therefore, be eaten as long as the expiry date has not expired. Because the longer you keep it, the higher the dangerous bacteria concentration. Therefore pay close attention to the date on the package.
Which meat products are allowed?
All meat products that are cooked roasted or baked can be eaten without worry during your pregnancy. Cooked meats include cooked sausage, sandwich sausage, and Gelderland sausage. Roast meats are roast fricandeau and roast minced meat. You can also take grilled sausage and ham on the bone.
With meat products, you must store them in the refrigerator at a temperature of four degrees Celsius. And keep it no longer than four days after opening. Always close the package tightly to prevent cross-pollination; when bacteria also sit on other foods in the refrigerator.
Ultimately, you decide for yourself what you want and what you do not want to eat during your pregnancy. It is advisable to eat as well and healthily as possible. That is not only good for you, but also your baby.
References:
- High blood pressure during pregnancy. (2019).
cdc.gov/bloodpressure/pregnancy.htm - People at risk: Pregnant women. (2019).
foodsafety.gov/people-at-risk/pregnant-women - Safe minimum cooking temperature chart. (2019).
foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/safe-minimum-cooking-temperature
