Can you eat ham when pregnant?
Charlotte Thomas
Deputy Editorial DirectorFind out if it's safe to eat ham during pregnancy, plus precautions to take to keep you and your baby healthy.
The official advice on eating ham in pregnancy
According to the NHS, ham is perfectly safe to eat when you're pregnant so long as it is pre-packed. However you should take extra care with home cooked or Parma ham, and other deli meats.
The NHS says that cold, pre-packed meats such as ham and corned beef are safe to eat when you're pregnant. So it's fine to have ham in your sandwiches.
If you're cooking ham yourself, make sure it's cooked through until the juices run clear.
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The NHS advises being cautious with Parma ham or other cured meats during pregnancy, unless it is cooked throughly. This is because cold cured meats like Parma ham are not typically cooked before serving, so may contain the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, an infection which can cause miscarriage. Cooking kills the parasite, so cooked and hot Parma ham and other deli meats are fine (for example on pizza).
You can find out more about safe ways to eat Parma ham in pregnancy here.
Delicious pork recipes
Love ham and pork? Why not try one of these great pregnancy-safe recipes?
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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