Pink Hamburger - Toxoplasmosis risk?

[BeckaH123]

Hi there

I had dinner out last night and the waitress mixed up my order with my husband's so that I ended up with a medium (pink) burger and he had the one I had ordered very well done. By the time we had noticed the mistake I had eaten most of it as it was quite dark in the restaurant. When I realised I stopped eating and was quite upset. I actually went home and made myself sick hoping this might help! The manager spoke with the chef who said that all the burgers are pre-cooked in a water bath (not sure what temperature) before they are grilled so there should be no bacteria present. I spoke to my GP today who said that as it was just a one off incident and because it had been pre-cooked, a blood test for toxoplasmosis is really not worth the worry. I am just wondering if I should insist on a blood test in a few weeks time or if I am being a tad neurotic here! It is our first and very wanted baby so I am a bit anxious. Any advice would be most appreciated!

Toxoplasmosis from a beef burger in the UK is pretty rare. Undercooked pork and lamb are more risky for toxoplasmosis, but it's more common in developing countries. Coming into contact with cat poo (cats are the main host) would be much more of a concern than eating a burger in the UK. Of course you have to manage things in the way that you feel comfortable, but personally I have eaten a couple of burgers in pregnancy that have been served pinker than expected and I haven't worried about it. I would think your GP would have a good sense of the risks.

Thanks Chloris33.

Honestly you will be fine. In France they continue to eat rare steak when pregnant.

Also if you're a cat owner/ have always enjoyed rare meat you may be immune.

Plenty of people eat all sorts before they realise they're pregnant with no problems at all. Try not to worry.

Disclaimer: I've had a panic about a Greggs pasty today and started a thread about it so definitely need to practice what I preach

Thanks both for reassuring me. I am sure I am being paranoid! My sister (medical student) has diagnosed me with a bad dose of worry warts! I feel a bit better about it now, thank you.

Yes I am sure in France if you asked for anything bien cuit you would be swiftly told where to go! However, I read that pregnant women in France are tested monthly for toxoplasmosis as a result. I think that is what confuses me as, I have not been offered any screening at all for it. Although, I also read that the NHS does not screen for it because there is no strong evidence to suggest that the current antibiotic treatments actually prevent congenital toxoplasmosis. Probably also because it is so rare they do not feel the need to screen everyone for it.

www.screening.nhs.uk/toxoplasmosis

I also read that, (even if I did contract toxoplasmosis from the dreaded pink burger!), at my stage of pregnancy (10.5 weeks) there is a less than 5% chance of me transferring toxoplasmosis to the baby. Also, if I was to transfer toxo to the baby, there is only a 2% chance of the baby being brain damaged and a further 1% chance of a still birth. I think some websites emphasise the fact that undercooked meat can lead to still births and brain damage as a precaution so people know to avoid it. It is absolutely terrifying stuff though if you are already a little bit anxious!

It seems to be, reading womens stories about contracting toxo, a lot of people have no idea how they caught it as they did not eat any undercooked meat or go around playing with cat litter trays while pregnant! I guess it is stupid to worry about one particular incident. I also read (have been doing a lot of reading!) that if you contracted toxo up to 3 months before conception there is also a chance you could transfer to the baby. I definitely cant remember everything I ate up to 3 months before I got pregnant so have decided to make a concerted effort to stop worrying!

When I am not pregnant, I eat meat quite rare (even pork sometimes if it is good quality) and spent a lot of time with animals (even wild ones) when I was little. I think (hope) there is a chance I could have already had it because of that. I have also never had food poisoning in my entire life so think the chances of me getting it now are slim..?

That said, I will definitely be checking all meat much more carefully from now on to make sure it is cooked through before digging in!