Mackeral Pate?

[Mammie81]

So is this like normal pate or what?

Ingredients on the Waitrose one dont say egg or liver and just list the ingredients Id us to make it at home - mackeral flakes with butter and cream cheese.

Is the stuff in the supermarkets the same as I make at home or does it contain something pregnant women shouldnt have?

(and if not, why even call it pate? Its mackeral paste!)

LOL it is the same as you make but I think that the guidance is pregnant women should avoid smoked fish in case of food poisoning as it's not cooked properly? FWIW I would still eat it but I would also eat smoked salmon after about 5 months at least.

when I was pg with DD (2yrs ago) I was told I shouldn't even eat vegetable pate! But I seem to remember it being more to do with the storage of it? i.e. if you get it from a deli, it's been hanging around for a while in possibly in a less than ideal environment?

sorry I can't help more!

Ive eaten mackeral so far just because I love the flavour. I think its ok tbh. Just that they warn you off pate, and this isnt techically pate at all!

Hmmm.... FSA says no pate of any kind BUT smoked fish in the uk is ok...

Thats no answer at all, is it

I am a midwife and I only told people to avoid pate that contained liver.

The risk is listeria - which multiplies when contaminated food is stored, hence the no pate including vegetable pate. You could make it at home fresh and eat immediately so the bacteria don't have time to multiply.

But its fish, butter and cream cheese. Thats just a spread like sandwich filler?

I can understand with the Tescos/Sainsburys ones, they have all sorts of cack in them, along with eggs etc. But isnt this just the same as eating a bit of smoked mackerel bought from a shop?

Totally. Let's face it, one of the most common causes of food poisoning is chicken and no one tells you not to eat that. Think we've all gone a bit mad in the UK. Really it's about being sensible and eating as fresh and well produced food as possible.

"Pate" that has been heat-treated/pasteurised is safe (eat it on the day you open it), provided it's not full of liver.

It may say UHT or Pasteurised on the packet, but the big clue is in the "use by" date, if the product keeps for more than 10 days, or it doesn't require refrigeration, then it's fine, all the bugs will have been killed by the heating process.

The risk is listeria, not just the liver in normal pate. Even veggie pates are out according to NHS advice. It's because it's a "wet" food that sits around basically.

Just eat the food you like, without taking silly risks, in moderation.

You don['t become a strange and frail species when you conceive.

As always, it's just whether risking listeria is worth it for some pate. Yes the risks are tiny, but the consequences could be serious for your baby. I'd prefer to not risk it personally.

And with listeria, the issue is that the unborn baby is a pretty frail creature, so can be more seriously affected by things that our bodies can easily deal with.

the risk of having a serious accident when you go in a car is tiny but there, but if every single woman who happened to be pregnant refused point blank to get in a care, we'd section them.

I'm going by the rule of thumb, how dodgy is your stomach usually? Is it cast iron or would the hint of how made anything have your running for the loo?

If you are made of sterner stuff then I would eat it. The risks are because your immunity is reduced not 'cos the food would kill you or harm the baby. Its more about getting dehydrated and the exhaustion or chucking up if you were to get food poisoning.

Many babys are born to women who for the first months were not aware so have eaten and drunk what they have liked, so a bit of sense and moderation with everything.

You have given me ideas for lucnh now, MMm Mackrel!!! :)

I'd eat it! As you say, it's not like liver pate, it's just fish, butter, etc. If it's fresh and you eat it at once, I'd have thought it was fine. True pates, veggie ones included, are made differently, aren't they?

As for smoked fish, nobody has ever told me to avoid this. My MW specifically recommended smoked salmon for bursts of protein for snacks...

I thought the Pate rule was just because of excess Vitamin A in the liver used to make meaty Pate?

Thats what I thought Giddyup. Thats why Im thinking, if its exactly the same as Id make at home, and thats safe then sod it! Surely the risk is the same as if Id bought the ingredients, and carried them home unrefridgerated.

And listeria is on most fruit and veg anyway.

I think anything bought from a supermarket, sealed, consumed within use-by date will be fine.

Officially it means NO PATE OF ANY KIND.

Unofficially, you make the judgement call on how much you want to eat it!

Everything has gone too far. Basically you just have to make sensible decisions. No to liver pate because of vit A but as to listeria, you wouldn't want to get that non pregnant so don't take risks you wouldn't normally but (not that I'm condoning this!) healthy babies are born to smokers, drug users and alcoholics. On the continent, women drink wine, eat soft cheese, drink coffee etc and don't have higher birth defect rates than we do. I understand those who have mc'd before and don't wish to appear callous or offhand but just use common
sense, if food seems slightly suspect, don't eat it otherwise enjoy in moderation

Agree - and if you are worried, don't bother eating it! If you are the type to worry then follow the guidelines to the letter. If you are more laid back (and sensible) then use common sense.

I really don't think it is worth eating a runny egg and then worrying for the next 48 hours for example!

I am still drinking coffee even though some people avoid it and I know plenty of women who are still eating runny eggs and soft cheese. It is ultimately up to you, you know your body best.

The point is, its not pate. Its labelled pate but its just mashed mackeral, cheese and butter.

I think its safe. Im having it.

I've been eating the pate mentioned here from Waitrose - not religiously, but a couple of times. I assumed that the pate restriction was down to liver/Vit A.

I find all the food do's and don'ts quite stressful. You can drive yourself nuts. And you can try and control everything in your diet, then go out to a decent restaurant, and something they give you has listeria on it, or gives you food poisoning.

I'm not saying listeria is a pleasant prospect - and believe me, I can be as anxious as the next person - but the odds are 1 in 20,000 women, i believe. That's pretty small.

AFAIK, the risk with listeria is that it can cross the placenta, so the baby can actually get the bug, not just you.

Up to you. Personally, I can't really avoid getting in a car, but I don't mind missing mackerel pate for 9 months.

Thanks Japhrimel - I think most pregnant women are aware that listeria can affect the baby and not just them. I'm not sure why you feel the need to keep repeating your point on this thread about why you're not eating pate