Does Deli Meat Actually Pose Any Threat To Pregnant People?
Pregnancy means a lot of things, and one of those is a restricted diet. There are many foods that pregnant people should avoid eating due to the risks posed to both their weakened immune system and the fetus. However, you may not be aware of one common food item that can be high-risk for pregnant people: deli meats. This is not one of those pregnancy food myths — because of the way deli meat is prepared, it carries an inherent risk of listeria contamination.
Listeria is a foodborne bacterial infection that causes the disease listeriosis, which poses severe risks to those with compromised immune systems as well as pregnant people. Listeriosis is not a common infection in the United States; most adults don't have to worry about severe illness from it, and most deli meats use additives to control the contamination risk. However, despite all of this, the risk posed to pregnant people and their fetuses is high enough that deli meats should be avoided while pregnant.
The listeria risk of deli meat and how to avoid it
Listeria has long stalked the deli meat industry. A 2002 listeria outbreak prompted a recall of nearly 30 million pounds of turkey after it caused seven deaths and three stillbirths or miscarriages. In 2024, listeria affected millions more pounds of meat, including at deli meat giant Boar's Head, which permanently closed a contaminated plant after ten people died.
Unfortunately, there's no way to source deli meat that doesn't carry a risk of listeria exposure. Not only are pre-packaged deli meats a known concern, but freshly sliced meats cut in-store might have an even greater risk of listeria contamination. However, if those unpredictable pregnancy food cravings leave one absolutely needing slices of deli meat, there is a way to substantially reduce the listeria risk. Simply heat the slices of meat until they are steaming hot. Much like cooking raw meat in a pan, the high heat from cooking the slices should kill any potential bacteria, including listeria — but it's still safest to eat something else instead.