Anyone living/lived in Italy?

[FrowningFlamingo]

Hi,
I've just come back from a weekend with friends in France and was surprised when my French friend told me not to eat any raw fruit or vegetables in restaurants because of toxoplasmosis in the soil. Along with the other restrictions this really limited what I could eat and was a bit miserable!
Im off to Italy for the week next month, does anyone live in Italy and can advise what they are told to avoid? I've seen mixed things online and it would be nice to know what people living there do in reality!
I will only be 12 weeks when we go so won't look properly pregnant which I'm worried will make it harder.
Thanks in advance!

Hi Flamingo

I'm pregnant in Italy at the moment and am tested regularly for toxoplasmosis. I've been told to avoid:

• undercooked meat
• cured meats (prosciutto cotto and mortadella are fine as the meat is cooked, other types of salami are out)
• raw vegetables and raw non-tree fruit in restaurants (if you're self-catering and washing it really well at home that's fine)

Not toxoplasmosis related, but I've also been told to avoid porcini and ovuli mushrooms.

How limited your choices are will depend to some extent which area you are going to. I live somewhere where they love bloody steak and platters of salame but have had no problems eating out as there are also lots of cooked summer vegetable dishes (plus pizza and pasta of course!).

Have a great holiday and feel free to ask anything you need!

Flamingo
I've had 2 kids in Italy and the toxiplasmois test was one of the first blood tests the doctor prescribed me. Luckily I have had it when not pregnant. But here's a list of what to avoid in general as advised by the doctors,

Raw seafood and fish
Raw or undercooked eggs (So carbonara and tiramisu)
Raw Fruit and veg, including salad veg (when eating out)
Undercooked or raw meat
Deli meats.(salame, prosciutto crudo) salame is ok on a pizza as it's cooked in the oven.
Soft cheeses like Gorgonzola, brie, camembert

Have a good time while here and bring a fan or something as it's not at the mo

Thank you so much! We are going to Ravello.

The raw veg thing was a total pain in France. Would you be happy enough picking salad out of a sandwich or burger? Or does it need to never touch? And garnish salads can just be left on the side?

I don't particularly plan to eat lots of sandwiches or burgers but it was surprising in France how much stuff had at least some raw veg or salad in it - I'd never noticed before, obviously!!

Looking forward to pasta and pizzas of course but a bit worried about lunches as i'd usually have salads! I've read that you need to ask if mozzarella and ice creams have been pasteurised. I think if you asked that in a UK restaurant they would look at you like you had two heads but maybe they're more used to it in Italy?!?

Oh I've just noticed your username Amalfimamma 🤦‍♀️ We are staying in Amalfi at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. But visiting friends in Ravello for the first part of the week.

Oh you're coming here! For the salads just tell the waiter your pregnant and ask them to wash the salad in bicarbonato or amuchina. They are usually very good about it. Avoid mussels and clams.

All mozzarella is pasteurized so it should be OK ice-cream just ask them.

Seeing as you have time, why not get tested for toxo before coming so at least you know and if you've had it you can eat almost anything

My local gelateria told me that by law, all milk used to make ice cream has to be pasturised. People will definitely be able to confirm if you ask though, it's expected that waiters/food sellers have detailed knowledge of the menu and ingredients. Most cheese apart from the mouldy stuff is pasturised so although you need to check, it's not particularly limiting.

I'd avoid salad in anything pre-prepared (e.g. a sandwich from the counter at a bar) but in something made to order I'd tell them you're pregnant and ask for no raw veg. or for them to wash it extra well - they'll be used to that as it's standard pregnancy guidance.

Getting a quick test before you go is a good idea so if you've had it you can relax. I've never had it so have to be cautious unfortunately. I'm dreaming of salame! Have a great holiday in a beautiful part of Italy!

lee

Where are you based if I may ask?

Get your dh to bring you a salame panino for after the birth. Like a true Italian lol

Just out of interest, why is it okay to eat salad in a restaurant in the UK but not in Italy? Do they treat their veg differently than they do here or is it just different recommendations from their health system as opposed to ours. I am going to France later in the year and didn't think twice about looking up what the French recommend to eat/not eat, I just planned to eat as I do at home?!

Sophie different pregnancy guidelines I think. I find the nhs, and indeed the hse, to be very lacking in guidance and prenatal care. Here it's not al to have a scan every month, weekly fetal tracking and fetal oxygen levels from 33 weeks on, blood tests every month and the strep test before labour. To be fair though female health is more of a thing here and it's normal to have your own gynecologist from the age of 16 on and it's normally he / she who follows you in pregnancy too. My gyno also had a nutritionist at hand for advice and monthly weigh ins to track my weight.

Not to mention the obligatory 4 day hospital stay after a natural birth and 7 days after a c section.

Post natal care here in italy though is retrograde and nothing compared to the nhs one

**here it's normal to have scans

There's a lot less toxoplasmosis in the soil in the uk compared to France and our food hygiene regulations are more strict. I couldn't find much about Italy when I looked though which is why I asked here. Glad I did, you've all been so helpful! Thank you!

Amalfimamma I'm in Tuscany, Pistoia area. A good friend is from Caserta and took me on a tour of the Amalfi coast once, it was heaven. I'm definitely going back!

Sophie Toxoplasmosis rates are higher in places where it's common to eat rare meat, such as France and Italy (although 20-30% of Brits have also been infected with toxoplasmosis, mostly without realising). Instead of being killed off by cooking at high temperatures, the parasite survives and is disseminted into the soil through cat poo. So you're also told to avoid gardening without gloves and be wary of cats (probably less relevant advice for holidays though!). My gynecologist said rare meat is by far the riskiest thing, the chances of infection from fruit or veg are very low but caution is advised, especially with stuff like curly lettuce or strawberries that are harder to wash.

Amalfimamma is right though, the advice should also be seen in the context of a generally cautious and medicalised approach to pregnancy (based on my SIL's experience, France is similar). Lots of stuff is fussed over and routinely tested for here that they don't worry about so much in the UK. Some people might hate it but personally I find it reassuring.

If you're not showing yet Flamingo, slip your pregnancy into conversation and you'll get the royal treatment. Have a wonderful time!