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Pregnancy food safety · 6 entries

Poultry during pregnancy

Of the 6 poultry entries here, 4 are fine, 1 needs care and 1 is worth avoiding. Usually it's how something was cooked or stored that decides it, not the food itself — each entry says which, and why.

Every poultry entry, with a verdict

Sorted with the ones worth knowing about first. Avoid means skip it entirely; take care means it depends on how it was prepared.

  • Poultry pate

    Avoid

    It’s not safe to eat any type of pate during pregnancy, even vegetable pate! Pate can be contaminated with listeria bacteria. 
Listeriosis can cause mild, flu-like symptoms that can appear anywhere from several days to several months after you’ve been exposed to the bacteria.
 Even though it’s usually a fairly mild illness, it may harm your unborn baby and can lead to difficulties with birth.

  • Poultry liver

    Take care

    Surprised to see liver in the "Dangerous" category? Yep, that's it. Liver is rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein, but it contains high amounts of preformed vitamin A, or retinol. Too much of this type of vitamin A in your diet can cause birth defects in your developing baby, especially during the first months of pregnancy. And don't forget that you are also taking supplements containing vitamin A! So to avoid receiving a toxic amount of preformed vitamin A reduce consuming liver dishes to 1-2 times a month and in really small portions! Avoid liver pate: it can be contaminated with listeria.

  • Goose

    Safe

    Goose is a tasty and healthy meet for everybody, including pregnant women. It is rich with proteins that are needed to build new cells in the body and your baby needs protein to form his muscles. It is also rich with iron that helps you and baby build healthy red blood cells as your blood volume expands and could also help prevent premature birth. Make sure you cook goose WELL with temperature no lower than 150° F (65° C), with no pink bits, and wash kitchen utensils and hands immediately after handling raw meat. Ordering duck dishes in a restaurant or for carryout, make sure it’s been cooked thoroughly. Better warn your waiter that you are pregnant before they start cooking your dish.

  • Turkey

    Safe

    Turkey is a great product for pregnancy. It's rich with protein that your body needs at this time, also it's a great source of vital amino acids, B vitamins like B6 and B3 that you need for a healthy pregnancy. If you want to get the best nutrients from your turkey, look for the ones that are raised under organic conditions. Grass fed turkeys, unlike the factory farmed raised ones, are rich in nutrients and lot more superior. Make sure you cook turkey WELL with temperature no lower than 160° F (71° C), with no pink bits, and wash turkey utensils and hands immediately after handling raw meat. Ordering turkey dishes in a restaurant or for carryout, make sure it’s been cooked thoroughly. Better warn your waiter that you are pregnant before they start cooking your dish.

  • Duck

    Safe

    Duck is great during pregnancy. It contains plenty of proteins including all sorts of amino acids. Every 2.5 ounce of the duck meat provides about 18 grams of proteins. Proteins strengthen the immune system, take care of skin and are very useful for the baby. Duck is rich in zinc and selenium, vitamins B5 and B12 that promote the nervous system functioning during pregnancy. Duck meat is also rich in iron, which helps boost hemoglobin production, boosts RBC count, and prevents the risk of anemia. Make sure you cook duck WELL with a temperature no lower than 150° F (65° C), with no pink bits, and wash kitchen utensils and hands immediately after handling raw meat. Ordering duck dishes in a restaurant or for carryout, make sure it’s been cooked thoroughly. Better warn your waiter that you are pregnant before they start cooking your dish.

  • Chicken

    Safe

    Eating chicken is recommended — it's light and tasty. Chicken is rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, but is not fat. It is actually lower in fat than other meats, so it is really ideal for pregnant women. But make sure you cook chicken WELL with temperature no lower than 160° F (71° C), with no pink bits, and wash kitchen utensils and hands immediately after handling raw meat. If you are ordering chicken dishes in a restaurant or for carryout, make sure it’s been cooked thoroughly. Better warn your waiter that you are pregnant before they start cooking your dish.

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