Undercooked Duck

[Summerblaze]

I went out for a christmas meal last night. I decided to order the duck as I thought that as it was a place that made freshly cooked food, I could order it very well done. When it came, it looked cooked through (it was duck breast that had been sliced so I thought that it must be ok). As I started eating it I thought that some bits looked pink. It was in a berry sauce but the pink bits of duck weren't touching the sauce. I ate around the pink bits but now I am worried. I usually have all my meat cremated so this is new to me. I felt like because I was in company, I couldn't cause a scene and either send it back or not eat it especially as another in the group is also pg and had her duck as it came (which was pinker than mine).

I am annoyed with myself more than anything as I usually have something vegetarian when I go out to eat as then I know that I won't have a problem with undercooked meat . I feel ok today so don't think I will get food poisoning as such but am worried about toxoplasmosis.

I really wouldn't worry about it. As long as you feel ok and there is no sign of food poisoning then I am sure you will be fine and there is nothing that can be done now anyway.

It can be hard not to worry about the smallest thing when you are pregnant but it will only cause you more stress the it's worth if you do.

Think calm and happy thoughts, better for you and baby :)

Duck isn't the same as chicken or turkey, it is not dangerous to eat it pink,that is how it should be, x :-)

agree with moregranny duck is more gamey than fowly, pink is how you're meant to eat it. (i agree i would wonder in my current condition too, because you are more concerned about everything) but i am sure you will be fine, especially if you are ok today. if you had food poisoning you would know about it by now.

I do not want to worry you, chances that you got toxoplasmosis are very slim, but the fact that duck is meant to be eaten pink would not protect you against toxoplasmosis.
All meat and fish should be cooked thoroughly to safeguard against it.
Having said that I do think its pretty rare and i do have never known anyone who contracted it, so I wouldnt worry tok much if I were you. But if you want to be reassured maybe you could ask to tssted for it next time you have a mw appointment? That way you know fof sure.

(I have hsd raw eggs during mh pregnancy because of licking cake batter ofc the spoon, only realised later what I'd done!!!)

Good luck with rest of pregnancy!

As long as its been cooked on the outside its fine, same goes for steak.

arrrr its horrid isn't it. when i first went out I had a pizza with gorgonzola and thought as it was pasturized it would be okay. well not until i got home and then was absolutely beside myself, wailing and panicing all night. and then another thing happend when I wailed and cried all night... i think we ahave to realise that we are super sensitive and these things will probably be alright, our panic is normal for us but somewhat blown up by our emotions and hormones so grab hold of yourself, give yourself a big hug, and don't worry for a second longer.

Surely the pizza was cooked?

The official advice on beef has changed. Its cats toxo parasite comes from. Therefore to catch it from duck the duck would have to be have infected. The parasite would have had to survive being cooked. 50% of the population are immune.

Therefore the duck would have to be infected (it probably wasnt). The parasite would have to survive being cooked (highly unlikely unless blue rare). You would have to not be immune.

The fact that only 50% of the population are immune shows how difficult it is to catch it.

My understanding is that the risk from undercooked meat is really only from things that have been minced (burgers, sausages, etc.) as there is so much more 'surface area' that could have been affected by any bacteria/virus (including toxoplasmosis) present on the meat when it went through the mincer. Cuts of meat are supposed to be OK rare, as long as the whole of the outside has been cooked. The NHS guidelines do say this.

I did panic a bit when I was given some under cooked game (think it was guinea fowl, can't remember), but when I read up on it I found that the 'structure' of game is different to chicken so it doesn't harbour salmonella and other bacteria in the same way, which is why it can safely be served rare. Apparently duck is classed as game rather than poultry.

If you are really worried, speak to your doctor and get a test for toxoplasmosis. It is rare to contract it though, which is why they don't routinely test for it in the UK (they do in France, strangely). Chances are if you have ever had a cat in the past you are already immune, too.

off the subject, but yes my pizza was cooked, but the cheese hadn't melted, which i think it has to to be safe, the romano from pizza express does seem to be a bit undercooked when i have had it, not all crispy and lovely, i forgot I was going to tell them that! am having a craving now...

Thanks for all the replies. I know I am probably a bit irrational but some of your replies have eased my mind a bit.

I have had cats most of my life so may be immune anyway.