WHAT?! no deli meat?! exactly what does that mean?

Question

HELP!!!

I am freaking out, ever since i read that i cannot eat deli meat (ie sandwich for lunch) i have been having cravings for sandwiches and also i don't really have anything else i can bring to the office for lunch except sandwich.

I cannot stand heated meat sandwiches.

So Whats the deal really with this listeria thing? (the sickness you can get from deli meat) And is the packaged stuff from say oscar myers considered deli meat or just the stuff at the deli counter?

Also why was my mom able to eat hot dogs and Bologna when she was pregnant with me and now that I'm pregnant (22 years later) its not ok?!

Please help me I really NEED to eat a sandwitch.

Answer 1

The whole lysteria thing is from Maple Leaf foods.. where they had lysteria in there meat and had to recall millions of dollars of meat that had gone out to stores for selling to customers.. and I can imagine places like Subway to use.. It is okay for you to eat deli meat and hot dogs.. there is just a scare out right now because Lysteria has actually been found in food that everyone has been eating.. its safer for pregnant and elderly people especially to stay away from deli meat until everything passes in case you eat some that for some reason hasnt been shipped back or destroyed... I used to eat subway everyday.. I would wait a couple months.. or eat packaged deli meat from a different company oscar meyers would be fine it was maple leaf foods that had the break out.. Goodluck

Answer 2

The fear of lysteria is real, but you can have deli meat.  

Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that is found in water and soil. Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil, and animals can also be carriers. Listeria has been found in uncooked meats, uncooked vegetables, unpasteurized milk, foods from unpasteurized milk and processed foods. Listeria is killed by pasteurization and cooking. There is a chance that contamination may occur in ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs and deli meats because contamination may occur after cooking and before packaging.

BUT

Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats or deli meats unless they are PROPERLY REHEATED TO STEAMING (or 160 F): Eating out at certain restaurants that provide deli meat sandwiches such as Subway is not recommended for pregnant women since they do not reheat their deli meats. Therefore Subway recommends that pregnant women eat non-luncheon meat items such as meatball, steak & cheese, roasted chicken, seafood & crab and tuna (limit 2 servings a week).

All that being said I still ate deli meat.  Everything in moderation, right?

Buy your meat, heat it all up, and then stick it back in the fridge.  It won't be the same, but still good.  Try to find stuff that isn't too high in nitrates (salt).

Other brown bag lunch ideas:

Also, try egg sandwiches, make your own healthy "pizza" using pita breads and toppings you like.  Make veggie wraps.  Get a roitissore chicken, pull it apart and make chicken salad or just use the chicken as the meat in your sanwich meat.  Could also do turkey.  Do hummus and cut veggies.  Yogurt and fruit cups.  You can still eat hot dos you are just supposed to cook them properly first.

Talk to your local deli.  Some delis reheat the meat for you already and that should all be safe.  Most of it is probably safe anyway.

Good Luck!  Soon you'll be able chow down on all your faves soon.

Answer 3

Any cold cuts are considered deli meat it doesn't matter if they are packaged or not. Hot dogs can be eaten because they are cooked, bologna I would stay away from. You could cook chicken breast and make chicken salad sandwiches, or roast beef sandwiches, as long as the meat is fully cooked before hand.  I would say that your mom ate things that were different because they didn't know the things then that they know now.  And though she and you were fine, it isn't worth the risk even if its a 1 in a million chance.  You could take bagels and cream cheese, salads, rice and chicken, etc... for lunch, you just need to modify slightly.

Answer 4

it's because you can contract Listeria......it's a deadly form of food poisoning . I live in Canada and we are going through a huge outbreak with that right now (4 deaths so far). I have stayed away since I have been pregnant, I don't want to risk it.

It's just my opinion, no need for thumbs down. I would rather go 9 months with no deli meat then risk getting sick. It could cause your baby to be still born.

Answer 5

When I was pregnant I craved sandwiches too.  I learned that deli meat is ok if it is pre-packaged.  Deli meat that is freshly sliced in the grocery store is what you need to stay away from because they slice many different types of meat without cleaning the machine between uses.  You also run the risk that the machines aren't throughly cleaned at the end of the day.  I was told by my doctor not to worry about all of the sandwiches I had eaten from restaurants- the risk of contracting listeria is very low.  So, keep enjoying your sandwiches!

Answer 6

Most likely you won't get Listeria unless you leave the meat out of the fridge for hours at a time then make a sandwich, I wouldn't buy fresh deli meat, you don't know how long its been sitting in the deli at the store, but I don't worry when I'm eating prepackaged lunch meat.  

Unless you live in a third world country your chances of getting listeria are very slim.

Answer 7

UhhhH!!! I thought that I was the ONLY pregnant woman who craved bologna on white bread with cheese and miracle whip! I hate miracle whip and especially bologna. It's crazy! I went to subway yesterday and was forced to eat some type of cooked chicken on my sub and, let me tell you, IT WAS DISGUSTING!!!! I may just go to the grocery store and reheat the bologna. I just want one sandwich... LOL. Oh and a chilli dog with onions sounds SOOO GOOD!! My mouth is just watering up! UGH!

Answer 8

I think if they look hard enough they can find a problem with everything so I wouldn't worry too much.  But if it is a major concern for you why don't you try something organic...if that isn't an option why don't you bake ham or turkey at home slice it and eat it on a sandwich?

Answer 9

You can.  People go overboard.  As long as the place you are buying your meat is reputable, you are fine.  As for hot dogs, just be sure to heat them first.

This listeria thing is blown way out of proportion.  There are like 2500 cases in the entire US per year and people don't die from it.  Of course, it would be bad if your baby got it, but the chance is really, really minimal.

The main things you definitely want to avoid are raw meats, fish and eggs.

Answer 10

I know that they say that sandwiches from Subway are okay. It has something to do with their safety precautions, etc. I haven't eaten any deli meat since I heard that I wasn't supposed to. I'm really looking forward to it after delivery, though.

Answer 11

Eat the darn sandwich. I ate whatever I wanted when I was pregnant with all 4 of my kids. Use your head, everything in moderation. Don't eat deli sandwiches all day and you'll be fine. I hate how doctors and "information" scares people and we wonder why everyone is neurotic. Eat the sandwich and enjoy, don't feel guilty.