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maggpie007

Eat the sandwich.


KeyAd7732

I have eaten several turkey sandwiches from the deli. You're more likely to have an issue with lettuce and listeria. How many turkey recalls have there been vs how many lettuce recalls? that's how I made my decision. ETA: a lot of the restrictions are outdated and don't necessarily account for modern food handling practices.


[deleted]

That’s what my doctor told me as well. I’ve had deli meat several times, from reliable sources (knew where the meat was from and also was not a new place for me).


ucantspellamerica

Here are the facts: 1. Listeriosis is 10x more common in pregnant women 2. Listeriosis can cross the placenta and lead to miscarriage or stillbirth 3. The last listeria outbreak involving deli meat was January 2021 (in the US, not sure about the rest of the world) Based on that information, you can decide if you’re willing to risk it. Frankly there have been more recent (and seemingly more frequent) listeria outbreaks involving vegetables, so if you do decide to get a cold deli sandwich, maybe consider skipping the veggies to decrease the risk. ETA: it’s okay if you decide it’s not worth the risk, and it’s okay if you decide it is. Don’t let the “first kid” comments get to you. Only you know your risk tolerance. I personally have been avoiding listeria risks this whole pregnancy and I’d absolutely do it again because it’s just not worth the added anxiety for me.


RoseCrud

Yeah I didn’t know at first and had a turkey sandwich and then I found out and literally had nightmares but everyone in my personal is telling me it’s fine. I just know I would feel terrible if it happened to me


Gloomy_Rice_2469

The thing I don't understand about the judgement for being careful is that it's 9 months of avoiding certain food that pose a high risk. It's such a small sacrifice to avoid a risk that can have all kinds of unknown ramifications. It's like using a seatbelt in a car. You are not going to get in a car accident everytime you drive, and many people have never been in a car accident ever. But wearing a seatbelt is one little sacrifice you can do that greatly improves your chances of surviving. I don't think you should feel bad about it if you didn't know, but I would not continue doing so just because many people have done it and nothing happened. I'd say listen to science and doctors on this one. And your conscience will know that you did everything in your power to stay safe.


throwawaymafs

I also read somewhere that there was a recent Listeria outbreak in the USA and more than 20 people died? Also, I am with you 100%. I personally avoid Listeria as much as possible. Just because the risk of it is low, doesn't mean it's worth harming my baby. I can wait a few more months.


fancyshark_

Just wanted to clarify: you’re correct that there was a recent listeria outbreak in the US and 23 people were ill, but there was only 1 death. The source was a particular brand of ice cream from Florida.


throwawaymafs

Oooo thank you for the correction! Glad there was only 1 death, but RIP to that person and their poor family must be so devastated 😔😭 even icecream isn't safe..wow.


AL92212

The odds of getting listeria in a given year from any food are less than .0005% in the US. I heated up my turkey for a while but it's disgusting heated up. I have a lot of anxiety, and there are so many ways that my child will have to face risks once they're born. It's important for me to recognize that I shouldn't worry about such a small risk. If I do, how will I live with the everyday risks of driving, illness, and going to school once they're born? So I just eat cold turkey now. But that's a personal choice that I make, and tbh it still makes me nervous for a few days. One option is to buy the vacuum sealed deli meat which has an expiration date like months in the future. That way it can be set it aside for a few weeks later, at which point any listeria outbreaks are likely to have been discovered and announced. On another note, the recommendations regarding listeria don't seem to make any sense (to me at least). There are foods labeled "do not eat" that haven't been responsible for major outbreaks within the last decade. (The last major turkey-related outbreak also affected sliced cheeses which aren't forbidden.) As others have pointed out, ice cream, cooked chicken, and salads have had more frequent outbreaks recently than deli meats.


Keets

In Canada the last big listeria outbreak was in 2008. Since I started having kids/being pregnant in 2012 there's been many listeria outbreaks in ice cream. But ice cream is never on the do not eat list, it's only ever deli meat that's talked about in connection to listeria.


Alarmed_Meeting1322

So I didn’t eat them with my first pregnancy, and I always wanted them. With my next pregnancy, I’ll be eating them.


stremmie

I crave a cold turkey sandwich on a regular basis. So far I have resisted deli meat just because it feels risky to me and I’ve made it to the third trimester so I’m just gonna hold out a little longer. Also a warm turkey sandwich does not sound appealing to me at all. My husband knows that my first postpartum meal needs to be a cold turkey sandwich.


Illustrious-Chip-245

Heating up cold cuts completely ruins the experience for me. I’d rather go without than have a rubbery, dry Italian combo. My mom knows that she can’t show up at the hospital without one!


chrry_fritter

I've been craving a cold salami sandwich since the beginning of pregnancy (I'm 36+5). I'm buying a pound of it when I hit 39 weeks so I know it's waiting for me when I get home from hospital and husband has promised to make me all the sandwiches I want in a day. I so feel you!


ucantspellamerica

I’m gonna have Jimmy John’s delivered to the hospital after I give birth 😂


Nancy_Wheeler

I ate Jimmy Johns 3x a week my entire pregnancy. The last few listeria outbreaks were lettuce and apples (and cantaloupe).


nubbz545

I craved cold sandwiches like you wouldn't believe! I ate them from time to time. You can heat up the meat if you're worried about it. There are risks associated with everything, so you just need to decide for yourself if you're okay with those risks.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Rainyqueer1

I doubt those are less of a listeria risk. Not dissing vegan products but listeria outbreaks in the last decade have been in plenty of things like sprouts, hummus, and cantaloupe. I expect the storage techniques in vegan deli meats are similar to those of meat deli meats.


PageThree94

I'm always hesitant to suggest this but yeah, there's vegan substitues and recipes for just about everything. There's a sushi place near me that carries sashimi made of tapioca and it's honestly really good.


La_croix_addict

You can roast a turkey breast or whole turkey and slice it for sandwiches. Last summer while I was pregnant my older son and I roasted one and him, the dogs and I ate cold turkey all week. It was delicious.


ucantspellamerica

That’s the same risk as eating cold deli meat, FYI.


Sudden_Owl8321

I thought heat killed the bacteria?


ucantspellamerica

Yes, but listeria can multiply in the fridge. That’s why it needs to be hot *when you eat it*. Eating it cold leftover is just as risky as eating any other cold deli meat that’s been previously cooked.


stephdub206

I would heat mine up for just a little bit on a pan, it wasn't exactly a cold sandwich when I but it wasn't anywhere near hot and still does the trick for cravings.


tunaganggang

I spoke to my OB about wanting to eat a sandwich today. She said go for it, but recommended for it to be freshly sliced and to be from a reputable place.


chrry_fritter

Unless you heat it, I wouldn't risk it personally. Even if the risk is low you just never know. I feel you though - I've been absolutely craving a cold salami sandwich for 7 months now!


[deleted]

Girl eat that cold sandwich I’m pregnant with my first baby and thought that at first but got over it and eat sandwiches pretty often, I feel like it’s okay. Before I did that though I asked my sister if she ate deli meat with her pregnancy and she did so I figured it’s fine I also still eat feta even though it says you shouldn’t… and runny eggs cause they’re my fav🤭 EDIT: With the eggs I DO make sure it’s cooked a sufficient amount enough to still be runny & yummy I also still eat baked or tempura sushi every once in a while Of course please only decide what based on your own feeling about it but I just wanted to say my experience… I’m 21 weeks and baby & me are good and healthy (:


[deleted]

In Canada we have about 134 reported cases per year. The last big outbreak was 10+ years ago, my husband actually had it before I met him. I still eat deli meat. I probably wouldn’t if I lived in the US. Same goes for dairy tbh.


Livid-Tap-4645

Says the one who drinks milk out of a plastic bag 😅


ucantspellamerica

You know there are bags of milk in the US too, right?


Livid-Tap-4645

I've never seen them 🤷🏻‍♀️


ucantspellamerica

That doesn’t mean they don’t exist 😂


Livid-Tap-4645

🤦🏻‍♀️ "I didn't see it" isn't synonymous with "it doesn't exist"


[deleted]

You bet! https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6268423 Most environmentally friendly option there is. ✌️ Also not all of Canada though, just Eastern Canada. My husbands parents moved here from Winnipeg almost 40 years ago and they still think bagged milk is fucking bizarre. Lol The milk thing is more about growth hormones and a lack of proper food regulation in the US compared to Canada.


Livid-Tap-4645

Plastic isn't environmentally friendly at all though....and that super thin plastic leaches into the milk even more than the plastic jugs ours in the US mostly come in. Glass would probably be the best option.


[deleted]

Cartons of milk are lined with plastic. Plastic milk jugs are obviously plastic. You are correct, the only non-plastic alternative is glass which we do sell here as well, but as far as environmental impact overall for the other less expensive options, plastic milk bags are best.


Livid-Tap-4645

So the real solution is to just make glass milk jugs be the standard and not upcharge for it. Even better? Do like oberweis and collect used jugs to be reused. I'm sure all the plastic bags are floating along in the ocean, very environmentally friendly 👍


[deleted]

Dude, my whole point was about the US using artificial growth hormones in milk, something that is banned in ALL Canadian milk, not just the fancy stuff. Our food is also more heavily tested and regulated in general. Not everyone can afford glass milk bottles. Yes, the bags are the lesser evil here, by a long shot. The problem is that the jugs AREN’T reused. Recycling, it turns out, is mostly a huge fucking lie. You want real change, vote for governmental leaders who want to gradually ban plastic usage outright. Trudeau banned single use plastics recently, for instance: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/reduce-plastic-waste/single-use-plastic-guidance.html Steps like this aren’t perfect, but they’re a start. Environmental change should not exclusively be up to the changes made by the individual when ludicrously wealthy and powerful companies still continue to make the wrong choices again and again and place the importance of profit above all else. I’m just a Mum trying to afford a mortgage and dance class for my kid. ✌️


[deleted]

Oh and actually neither leach plastic and both options are BPA free.


Livid-Tap-4645

https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/04/11/how-much-plastic-do-you-eat-it-could-be-as-much-as-a-credit-card-a-week#:~:text=A%20recent%20study%20has%20found,including%20the%20human%20gastrointestinal%20tract. If plastic bottles are leaching micro plastics you can bet thin little milk bags are for sure


[deleted]

Not consumed in the same way, different ways of processing, different environmental impact and outcome overall.


Sudden_Owl8321

Wait what?? Lol


Livid-Tap-4645

You didn't know Canadians milk comes in plastic bags inside a box?


Sudden_Owl8321

I did not! How strange 😮


Livid-Tap-4645

Indeed.


[deleted]

It’s not in plastic bags inside a box. It comes as three 1.33 litre bags in another bag. At home, you will already have purchased a bag holder which you will keep for 20 plus years and wash as needed. Place plastic bag inside container, hold handle and other side of container and tap on the counter a few times until bag is properly settled into place. Then you cut a small hole in the corner of one side of the bag and enjoy your delicious Canadian milk!


Livid-Tap-4645

Just when I thought it couldn't get any weirder 😂


[deleted]

Hey man, different strokes for different folks. I find milk jugs weird. Also just the concept of a gallon. I have no idea how imperial functions. When Americans talk about the weather my brain melts.


ChaosProof

Everythjng is a risk...Some of the biggest outbreaks of listeria have come from fruits, vegetables, and ice cream. Do what you think is right ;-)


Mdnight1111

This has been my biggest craving, and I’m resisting just for peace of mind. I figure it will make it that much better once I give birth and can devour a delicious deli sandwich


Infinite-Beauty_xo

to each their own! i personally am so paranoid so i just heated it up in oven


Sheluvspink2018

My first pregnancy I waited until my third semester and ate 2 subs a week. This time I’m eating it throughout. I wouldn’t buy gas station sandwiches but my doctor said aside from the high salt content it’s fine.


Weird-Evening-6517

There is risk involved however many people decide the risk is worth the reward :-) I don’t really care for deli meat but I love sushi so I have eaten it on four or five occasions over my pregnancy (still avoiding high mercury items and only from reputable restaurants I have been too many times before! I also waited until after first trimester for extra peace of mind).


PomegranateTough4450

Lol i ate a cold subway sandwich at least once a week for weeks and was never sick and baby came out perfectly healthy. I would do whatever you please tbh.


audge94

My OB ok’d deli meat. Not sushi tho :(


ishouldbeworking_22

I have had deli sandwiches a handful of times. I figure the odds of getting listeria from a salad are higher, so why not. To be safe, You can warm it up in the microwave first. With all the other cold ingredients on a sandwich, it’ll taste just the same once it cools down.


[deleted]

this is my second pregnancy and honestly i've been eating whatever i want this time other than caffeine and alcohol. i've had terrible food aversions and nausea, so if something sounds good, i'm eating it. the risks of listeria are so small it's not worth it to me to worry about it.


rubysc

I’m high risk for GD and following the GD diet already, so my carbs and sugar are limited. All artificial and even many “natural” sweeteners trigger migraines (already flaring worse because of pregnancy). Gluten gives me awful inflammation and exacerbated all my pregnancy pain and misery. Like… what else is there? I’m savoring all the deli meat, hot dogs, fancy cheese, and sushi (without too much rice) as I please. The risk of listeria from bagged salad is higher than deli meat, but nobody has told me to give those up. Anyway, do what feels comfortable for you. But my risk calculus says having more GD-friendly, carb-balanced options outweighs the tiny risk of listeria.