Can you eat pork when pregnant?
Hannah Weiss
WriterFind out if it's safe to eat pork during pregnancy, including pork pies and pork scratchings. Plus, precautions to take to keep you and your baby healthy.
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The official advice on eating pork in pregnancy
Great news! Pork is safe to eat when you're pregnant, providing you ensure the meat is well cooked. During pregnancy, you're at greater risk of food poisoning, so always make sure that the juices run clear before eating pork.
Whether you're enjoying pork chops, pork mince or a roast pork joint, the NHS advises that all meat, including pork, must be fully cooked during pregnancy. If you eat pork while you're pregnant, always make sure there is no trace of pink or blood.
If you eat raw or undercooked meat, there is a small risk of getting toxoplasmosis. This is an infection caused by a parasite that lives in raw meat, soil and cat poo. Toxoplasmosis can make your unborn baby very unwell and potentially lead to pregnancy complications, including miscarriage and stillbirth.
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Pork pies
Pork pies usually contain a mixture of pork mince, bacon lardons and sausage meat baked in a pastry crust. Pork pies are often served cold, but because the meat has been thoroughly cooked in the baking process, they are fine to eat during pregnancy. You may be surprised by how many calories are in a pork pie though, so enjoy in moderation, especially if you're worried about gaining too much pregnancy weight.
Pork scratchings
Providing the meat has been fully cooked, pork scratchings are safe to eat while you're pregnant. Pork scratchings are pork skin that has been roasted or fried in fat to get that perfect crispy texture. They're usually pretty high in salt and saturated fat, so it's best to keep them to an occasional treat.
Delicious pork recipes
Love pork? Why not try one of these great pregnancy-safe recipes? Just ensure the meat is well cooked with no trace of pink.
The Day-by-Day Pregnancy Book: Count Down Your Pregnancy Day by Day by Dr Maggie Blott is packed full of advice from a team of experts to help guide you through your pregnancy from conception to birth. See more details here at Amazon.
Looking for more pregnancy diet info? Check out our articles below, or swap tips with other mums-to-be in our forum.
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