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Pre-packed sandwiches, and washing bagged salad...

10 replies

SpawnChorus · 20/06/2009 17:21

Should I be avoiding shop-bought sandwiches (from e.g. Boots) on the basis that they have salad in them, and bagged salad = a listeria risk?

Also, is listeria actually washable offable? Recommendation is to give bagged salad another wash before eating, but surely listeria isn't that feeble...

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McSnail · 20/06/2009 17:32

I think the heavily chlorinated water used in those 'washed and ready to eat' salad bags are the problem, not listeria. Listeria can be a risk in shop bought sandwiches though, yes - maybe best to avoid...

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sarah293 · 20/06/2009 17:34

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SpawnChorus · 20/06/2009 20:15

No no, the risk from salad is listeria and also toxoplasmosis here.

I'm still not convinced that listeria and toxoplasmosis would obligingly remove themselves from salad just from a wash in water.

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princessmel · 20/06/2009 20:17

I eat both...

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readyfornumber2and3 · 20/06/2009 20:22

I wouldnt have thought that bagged salads carry much of a risk to be honest, I worked in a factory that did the salads years ago and you wouldnt believe how much chemical they are washed in before being bagged.
I have eaten both bagged salad and shop bought sandwiches in both pregnancies and have never had a problem.

TBH I think all this dont eat this dont eat that is getting stupid! I have eaten plenty of runny eggs and fresh prawns while pregnant too and havent had so much as an upset stomach.

Its all about personal choice but I think these guidelines are going too far now

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SpawnChorus · 20/06/2009 20:25

ready - I'm inclined to agree, BUT I wish they would give proper statistical advice rather than just woolly blanket bans on food. Also, I feel I do have to be fairly cautious as I know I'm not immune to toxoplasmosis, and I also have a history of bowel disease (which may or may not make me more susceptible to infections!)

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SpawnChorus · 20/06/2009 20:26

Plus I'm a stickler for the rules.

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VenusInfers · 21/06/2009 10:28

I agree with Readyfornumber2and3. We live in an age, and a country, where almost all food is very carefully monitored for safety. Crossing a busy road is likely to be statistically far more dangerous than eating brie from a well known supplier. Ask yourself how many times, in the years before you became pregnant, did you get food borne illnesses or food poisoning from eating what you like? For most women I would think this gives a good guide on how likely it is in pregnancy. With the almost universal result of 'not very'.

Of course, no one wants to put their unborn child at unnecessary risk, but I personally am going for the 'eat well, be happy, and don't worry about the occasional bit of goat's cheese' approach.

SpawnChorus I can see that you have additional reasons to be cautious, but I can't recall a single 'listeria-found-in-boots-sandwiches' scandal...

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Kingsroadie · 23/06/2009 14:49

Agree - it's just too much effort!

I eat bagged salad, ready made salads, prawns, shellfish (as long as from a reputable source) and ham etc.(I don't eat sandwiches much as have a wheat intolerance, although do have the occasional one)

The only thing I am trying to avoid really is blue and runny unpasteurised mold ripened cheese due to listeria and undercooked meat due to toxoplasmosis (which basically means no steak for me as I eat it practically raw and would rather go without than eat it well done). But I just think we are being scared by all this advice - think about what our mothers did - ate what they wanted basically!