So I ate this thinking it was safe...

[ChippedVarnish]

I’ve had a few over the past couple of months and only today realised from the ingredients list that it contains rare beef?

I didn’t know as the packet just said beef and horseradish?

Would it be extreme to request a blood test?

I’ve been advised that the sandwiches are not frozen at any stage...

I’m not going to request it as everyone makes sense, but the blood test I was referring to would be for toxoplasmosis, I’ve had food poisoning in this pregnancy and spoke to my midwife she said just make sure to stay hydrated so not too worried about that, although would always follow good food hygiene practice where I could

NerrSerr - did you RTFT?

All the best with the rest of your pregnancy OP and congratulations 😊

Thank you @alwaysaworry and everyone for your help and advice!

I had a bacon, brie and cranberry baguette yesterday. No regrets! (Tbh anything I feel like eating goes in at the moment as I’m completely off food most of the time). You have to weigh up the risks and benefits for yourself. In day to day life if someone told you there was a 3 in 1,000,000 chance of something happening (eg. Contracting listeria - as are to odds in this country), you’d usually take your chances!

With toxoplasmosis, all a test would tell you is if you’ve been exposed to it which is unhelpful unless they know if you were exposed to it prior to your pregnancy.

Blood test for toxoplasmosis gives an indication of when you'd had the infection. They look for both igM and iGG antibodies and usually can say if it was pre or during pregnancy (different levels of each show acute or historic infections)

Listeriosis on the other hand it's true doctors can't really tell when you've had an infection as antibodies are slightly different (I've had both infections, and CMV, in the past but not too worried as I'm sure listeriosis would have been pre pregnancy!)

Despite above I must admit I've been eyeing a lovely Brie, bacon and chutney sandwich in the shop I pass everyday but I'll probably end up waiting! 😀

Did say to DH - I should buy a lottery ticket based on odds of having had listeriosis! I think most cases probably go under the radar

But still stress it's a minuscule risk for anyone reading!

This is the most useful website for practical information and advice.
You would have to wait three weeks post suspected meat / fish / soil consumption before having a blood test:

www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/infections-pregnancy/toxoplasmosis-pregnancy

Finally "The UK National Screening Committee recently reported that screening for toxoplasmosis in pregnancy should not be offered routinely as there is not enough evidence that it would help".

Always that’s good to know, thanks! Think I got my tests the wrong way around!

Going back 40odd years when I had mine, there were no foods off limit. In fact we were told to eat lots of liver as it was full of iron.

@Didntcomeheretofuckspiders

Love your username btw. Had to urban dictionary to see what it meant as a saying!

Idratherhaveacupoftea

Bet they said about Guinness for the iron too? 😀 Shame that's not the advice anymore

I was so strict with myself on my first pregnancy followed all the guidelines to a T and was a bit bloody anal. By my 4th things had changed so many times over the years I just avoided Alcohol and liver/pate/most shellfish and limited how much tuna I ate. Everything else I ate as I wanted. I eat my steaks rare, adore peanuts (allowed now )
Runny eggs and prawns. I ate blue cheese and other soft cheeses and was totally fine. Most of these recommendations are different in different countries and change all the time. Try not to worry and I'm sure you and bubba will be fine

I really think the risk is so minuscule, if not negligible, with this sandwich- I doubt you would get a GP to agree to test you.

For me, when I've had steak it's been medium rare, but that's something I am happy to do and take the (relative) risk.

maybe discuss it with your midwife for some reassurance?

Just to add- I'm on my third pregnancy.

With my second, I found out the earliest of all of them, followed all the guidelines and advice, was generally treating my body like the proverbial temple. Found out at 13 weeks scan showed missed miscarriage.

This time I'm taking more of a balanced approach, but only because I've come to realise that whatever you do, you cannot completely "protect" yourself. I think I've been quite fatalistic from the start, whatever will be will be.