Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

I was in the supermarket today getting cold cuts, and the man who works there (chinese/korean not sure) says "are you pregnant"? At first I thought about saying "umm..ya think???" LOL! Instead I just said "yes I am". He then proceeded to say said "don't eat sandwiches. My doctor said they have MSG". I just said "oh really..ok", but in my head I thought you're about 39 weeks too late buddy...I'm due next week. You should have seen him..pointing his finger and he kept repeating himself. He was VERY adament about it.

I've NEVER heard this. Have you???

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

I've heard that cold cuts should be eaten in moderation - and some doctors suggest against them, due to listeria in them. But that's only if they're not fresh, so the deli man really shouldn't be advertising that his meat isn't fresh!

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

Posted by Palebride

I've heard that cold cuts should be eaten in moderation - and some doctors suggest against them, due to listeria in them. But that's only if they're not fresh, so the deli man really shouldn't be advertising that his meat isn't fresh!

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

Yes, I have heard of it. We aren't supposed to have deli meats. I have heard that it was b/c of nitrates but I have also heard that it is b/c of listeria. Maybe we are just supposed to limit it but I am not sure. We could go crazy with all these rules.

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

Yes I have heard it a lot- we are not supposed to eat deli meat unless it is cooked/steamed.

I have eaten a few sandwiches.



Listeriosis is caused by Listeria monocytogenes and is a pretty common illness that you get, usually from food. In most healthy people your body just fights off the infection and you never even know you had it, or you have some diarrhea for a bit and then get better quickly. I knew this, so thought, it was silly to get so worked up about it with pregnancy. What I didn't know was that pregnant women are 20 times more likely to become infected and develop a severe illness of listeriosis. That makes a big difference! Other high risk groups are the elderly, persons with cancer, diabetes, alcoholism, kidney disease, AIDS, or those taking corticosteroid therapy. (Nice to know that being pregnant puts you in the same category as such severe illnesses!) Another reason that is it of concern when being pregnant is that the illness tends to go where ever there is a large amount of blood supply... which when you are pregnant, is the uterus, and then the baby.

Avoid listeriosis by:
1) Avoid hot dogs, luncheon meats, deli meats, unless they are reheated until steaming hot.
2) Wash hands after handling the above foods.
3) Avoid soft cheeses (feta, Brie, Camembert, Mexican-style cheeses, etc) unless they are made from pasteurized milk or are fully cooked as part of a dish.
4) Watch out for the juice from hot dogs... it can have transmit the illness, so wash up anything that gets the hotdog juice or hot dogs on it.

If you are not convinced yet that you should really put forth the effort to avoid getting Listeriosis, let's talk about the consequences that can happen if you contract this illness while pregnant. First you my have a mild flu-like illness with headache, nausea and fever. Then it can be followed by an infection in the placenta, loosing the baby, or a brain infection in the baby. Not good.

You can read more about Listeriosis at, the Center for Disease Control.

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

I just noticed you have 9 days left! I dont think you have anything to worry about!

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

I have eaten LOTS of sandwiches over the last 9 months...I'm fine...and so are you!

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

i ate plenty but yes, my OB said Deli meats should be eaten in moderation , meaning very small amounts if at all.

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

i've eaten plenty of sandwiches/cold cuts. As long as you get the meat from a reputable place it should be fine.
My dr. said just be careful in the summer that the meat isn't sitting out for a while and then eaten.


and wow, 9 days!! wahoo

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

Yes! My Doctor told me to stay away from cold cuts cause they are VERY high in salt and can raise your BP.

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

i've heard this, but have been eating cold cuts in moderation throughout.

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

I've stayed away from cold cuts except for american cheese. It's all I have wanted to eat this entire pg. I craved bologna but thought it best not to have it because of the nitrates and salt, etc. I am retaining enough water!

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

No cold cuts for me :(

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

i eat cold cuts and even snuck in a few hot dogs...my doctor said in moderation it is fine.

somone needs to tell that deli man to MYOB!

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

my doc told me to stay away unless reheated to steaming b/c of listeria

i had a few coldcut sandwiches (mostly oscar meyer thin sliced b/c i figured i'd have less of a chance of contamination) but i've tried to stay away for the most part

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

My dr said absolutely NO cold cuts, unless I heat them to steamig (Gross if you ask me). She has been really moderate too, she just warned me of this, mercury in fish, and alcohol.

In fact, last night DH was making his lunch and I was craving a ham & cheese sandwich (which is funny, because I don't like ham, lol).

Message edited 7/31/2007 9:30:14 AM.

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

I've been eating sandwiches (in m oderation) my entire pregnancy...

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

I eat a sandwhich about once a week.

If you get your coldcuts from a place tht has high turnover, the chance of listeriosis decreases, but obviously it's still a chance.

Also, I don't think they contain MSG but a TON of sodium! Opt for the low sodium variety.

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

I have heard this, and it's actually one of the few things my doctor told me I shouldn't eat (along with Sushi and the four bad fish).

Tine73 described why very well. My doctor gave me an article explaining listeriosis, and after reading it, I decided to give up cold cuts for the pregnancy. It just sounded too scary, and not worth the risk. Cheese is okay, as long as it's pasteurized.

You're probably fine though, if you've been eating them all along.

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

I just read this last week after eating cold cuts for lunch all week long. I don't know what to eat for lunch anymore. Yesterday and today I have a cheese sandwich

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?

They are on the "moderation" list but not the "no" list.

Re: Has anyone heard you can't eat sandwiches while pregnant?