Can you eat bacon when pregnant?

Find out if it's safe to eat bacon during pregnancy, including smoked bacon, turkey bacon, Canadian bacon and cooked bacon. Plus, precautions to take to keep you and your baby healthy.

The official advice on eating bacon in pregnancy

Good news! Bacon is safe to eat when you're pregnant, as long as you make sure it's well cooked first.

Whether it's regular bacon, smoked bacon, Canadian bacon or turkey bacon, the NHS says you should make sure all meat is thoroughly cooked when you're pregnant – that means no trace of pink or blood.

This is because, if you eat raw or undercooked meat, there's a small risk of getting toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite that lives in raw meat, soil and cat poo, and can cause miscarriage and complications in pregnancy.

Do bear in mind though that bacon can be high in salt. The NHS advises cutting down on salt in pregnancy, so you may prefer to enjoy bacon in moderation.

Delicious bacon recipes

Love bacon? Why not try one of these great pregnancy-safe recipes?

• Carrot, lentil and bacon soup
• Cheesy beans and bacon quesadillas
• Spinach, bacon and cheddar triangles
• Dublin coddle

We like The Whole 9 Months, a week-by-week pregnancy nutrition guide, packed full of recipes and medical advice. See more details here at Amazon.

Take a look at

Foods to avoid in pregnancy: your definitive guide

Confused about what you can and can't eat during pregnancy? These are the foods and drinks you should avoid or cut down on to protect your baby.

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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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