Smoked salmon!

[jem_5500]

I REALLY want smoked salmon! is it ok to eat it?

 

[babystar]

I copied this for you off a webpage

Is smoked salmon safe to eat during pregnancy?

In this country we do not recommend avoiding smoked salmon (or other cold meats) because the risk of listeria is very low, much lower than the risk from eating some types of cheese. However it is best to buy from a reputable supplier, for example any supermarket and check that the fish or meat looks fresh and has a best before date stamped on it.

 

[lucilou]

I heard that it is ok if it has previously been frozen.... something about the low temporature killing off the bacteria or harmful organisms or something... not sure where I heard it though.

 

[wishingonastar]

it should be fine...though go easy and don't have it daily!

 

[notquite]

I have heard it's not okay because technically it's uncooked!! But maybe I am talking about a different kind, I don't know.

 

[Aria]

Nothing uncooked. If the smoking process cooks it, you're fine. But NO meat or fish products that haven't been cooked.

 

[hopedance]

i would vote no, to be on the safe side. i have wondered the same thing though, my husband reckoned that smoking it wouldn't actually make it pregnancy safe as it is still uncooked. i might be wrong though!

 

[Lazy Leo]

yep that's my understanding, smoked isn't cooked. So smoked salmon and parma ham are both out in health care professional eyes at least in the UK. But ultimately it's your choice. If you think the risk is small enough then go for it and enjoy it. If you think no risk is worth it then you'll have to wait till after the baby is born.

Oh, and one thing I learned from my friend, if you plan to breastfeed it can be difficult to re-introduce foods you didn't have when you were pregnant. She had pate about six weeks after her daughter was born and ended up having a very ill little girl. The dr asked her if she'd eaten anything she didn't have during the pregnancy and when she replied that she'd had the pate he said that was the likely reason. Which unfortunately means if you decide to avoid the salmon it might be for a while after the birth!! But maybe she was just unlucky!

 

[Genna]

We make our own sushi, mmm!! and we use smoked salmon in it. I don't have it too often and the amount in the sushi is so small, but I've been eating it and both Marley and I are fine Ultimately, hun, it's your choice Do what YOU feel comfortable with. I swear the amount of things they tell you to avoid during pregnancy is just ridiculous! IMO

 

[Elysian1c0]

IMO, based on research and my own common sense, I think that if you buy from a reputable place, you'll most likely be alright. Don't go buying smoked salmon from a gas station or anything silly like that, and your risk of coming across contaminated meat is very slim.
The reason it is suggested you avoid it is because there is a small chance that it will harm you and baby, and chances are scary. I say, buy from a place you trust, pray before your meal, and don't stress it. I do admire the women who eat perfectly throughout their entire pregnancies but...maybe I'm a little more lax. I also intend to have a bit of sushi from the place I have been going to for years, I'm ordering a glass of wine at dinner on my 21st birthday, and every now and then I have a LITTLE bit of Pepsi (but I avoid caffeine because I KNOW that the baby can't metabolize it.)
My sister would pee herself if she heard me speaking like this, since she did everything by the book while carrying my nephew.

I'd love a toasted bagel with cream cheese and lox, but I don't trust any of the deli's in my area, and I'm not in the mood to travel very far...

 

[Aria]

don't go buying smoked salmon from a gas station ...

eeewwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!

 

[Sweetie]

There are two types of "smoked" salmon. One is an uncooked type called Lox and the other ends up cooked from the smoking process. We make smoked salmon all the time after fishing during the summer. The heat from the wood chips and smoke do cook it just very slowly.

 

[RebaMc]

I love smoked salmon but have been avoiding it. We're staying at a friends tonight and she's obviously been doing some research before deciding what to cook for us:

"The DoH website says that smoked salmon is OK with pregnancy but I'll make some spring rolls just in case as it also says that you can have personal preferences to avoid - some European countries advise to avoid but the UK thinks it's over-kill. Strangely enough, sushi is perfectly safe in pregnancy because the fish has been frozen for at least 24h so although it is completely raw, the worms are killed whereas the smoking process is not as guaranteed as the freezing process. I learn something every day. I've now actually stuffed the smoked salmon into the freezer so by Sat, it would have been in there for >24h just in case."

Bless her! I trust her judgement though, as she is a medic, so tonight I'm going to have just a little bit

 

[celine]

I asked my mw after avoiding it so long and she said it was fine I obviously dont but it from anywhere dodgy and dont have it all the time but it was hard NOT to have some sometime especially with cream cheese on a bagel!

 

[lindypops]

I have had it a few times, in sushi and in a bagel. These are my two favourite lunches, so it has been hard not to have them occasionally. From a reputable supplier they should be fine.

 

[GersPrincess]

I'm assuming it's safe, as I ate smoked salmon nearly every day between months 4 and 6 of my pregnancy with my son! I couldn't get enough of the stuff. I am still famous amongst family and friends for carrying around packets of smoked salmon in my handbag, and every now and again reaching in and pulling out slices to stuff in my mouth!!

I met some people at my Mum's 50th last year for the first time, and they'd all heard the stories of the "smoked salmon lady" as I'm nicely called!!

As far as I am aware smoked products are fine in pregnancy. I'm half Italian, and both me, my sister and all my family have continued to eat parma ham throughout all our collective pregnancies.

There may now be an issue with salmon and mercury in the water, but I'm not sure if this applies to all salmon or just salmon fillets. I stay away from farmed salmon, it's more expensive to eat the proper stuff, but my God, does it taste a million times better!!

 

[ahava]

so if sushi is out, then how comes the japanese eat it when pregnant? I love sushi but was told its out ...hmm...all my favourites you are making me so hungry ladies....(grabs a huge bar of galaxy )

 

[kellysays2u]

I have had smoked salmon in this pregnancy and Athena is perfectly fine lol. I think as long as you get it from a good healthy sanitary place you should be fine.

 

[Lunaty]

hmm i had such a craving for smoked salmon in my 2ww i ate it on toast in the morning.. got advised to leave it though..

sushi too btw is one of my fave lunches.. damn it
i guess better safe then sorry though..

 

[babystar]

nom nom nom nom nom yummy