Can I Eat Raw or undercooked meat While Pregnant?
Best to avoidGeneral guidance from CDC. Please always check with your provider.
Fully cooked meat is a wonderful source of protein and iron in pregnancy, so the goal here is simply cooking it through.
Why
Raw or undercooked meat and poultry can harbor Toxoplasma, Salmonella, and E. coli. The CDC highlights toxoplasmosis in particular because this parasite can pass to your baby and cause serious problems with the eyes and brain, sometimes without any symptoms in you. Salmonella and E. coli can cause severe illness and dehydration that puts added stress on your pregnancy.
How to enjoy it safely
Use a food thermometer and cook whole cuts of beef and pork to 145F with a three-minute rest, ground meats to 160F, and all poultry to 165F. Avoid tasting raw or partially cooked meat while you cook, and wash hands, boards, and utensils that touched raw meat. Well-cooked meat delivers the same iron and protein with the risk removed.
When to ask your provider
Tell your Garden OB/GYN provider if you have eaten raw or undercooked meat and feel unwell, so they can decide whether testing for Toxoplasma is warranted.
More foods that are best to avoid
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. It summarizes guidance from CDC, which can change, and individual situations vary, so please confirm with your Garden OB/GYN provider.
Questions about your pregnancy diet?
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