Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy

[Mummy801]

Hi everyone, I am 14wk pregnant and just learned now that cured meats like Jamon can be very dangerous and cause toxoplasmosis, no one ever told me before, my midwife only said about raw meat, steaks with blood and raw fish. Is there a way to say what my risks are? Has anyone had it when pregnant? I got a blood test referral in 1month, thinking to go privately meanwhile or I'll die of worry. Thanks everyone

The risk is very low. Citizens in France / Spain etc don't have this warning. Everything in moderation- highly reccomend the book Expecting Better by Emily Oster!

If you freeze cured meats for 4 days before eating they are fine to have. Also ok if cooked e.g. on pizza, in pasta. How often have you eaten it?

Citizens in France / Spain etc don't have this warning.
They do in Spain now.
However OP, you can freeze your jamon and chorizo for 2-4 days or cook it

Poor you having this to worry about, but if it’s any reassurance it’s not that common in the UK. I have eaten lots of raw, cured and rare meats in my time (both in the UK and abroad) and haven’t had toxoplasmosis (I know because I was tested after a miscarriage). The chances of you having contracted it are very low. I’d get the test for reassurance however.

Honestly don't worry. You will be fine. Chances are you've had it before in which case you're immune. The statistics of babies being born with this are incredibly low.

I've also been tested due to being a worrier during pregnancy and have never had it - but have spent my life eating all the things that give you it so just shows you how rare it must be

Citizens in France / Spain etc don't have this warning.

Oh FFS.

OP, your risk is small and you shouldn’t worry unduly but the above statement is absolute trash. Women in France and Spain are routinely screened for toxoplasmosis antibodies at booking-in and in some cases throughout pregnancy and will therefore know if they are immune. If they are not immune then they are advised to avoid cured meats or at least to freeze them for several days before consumption.

I wonder if we need to start reporting to @MNHQ when people post this kind of bald misinformation.

inpes.santepubliquefrance.fr/CFESBases/catalogue/pdf/1059.pdf

www.aecosan.msssi.gob.es/AECOSAN/docs/documentos/para_consumidor/embarazadas.pdf

@ThanksItHasPockets thank you!

Toxoplamosis is incredibly rare in industrial cattle (because they don't graze). So as long as you don't eat luxury organic meat and packaged salad, it's fine.

I've been tested three times. I haven't got the last result yet, but despite living with an incontinent cat for several years, eating everything from the garden unwashed on purpose and having had several litters of kittens, the last two times I was still negative.

kikibo sorry but that's nonsense.

In the UK nearly all beef cattle graze on pasture during the summer and silage and concentrates during the winter.

OP I live on a farm and the toxo risk is very low if you take sensible precautions like freezing cured meats and not eating cat poo or licking newborn lambs.

Well, I'm not in the UK though. That's one.

Second, the fact remains that in modern agriculture toxoplasmosis is extremely rare. I thought the figure was around 0.01% or something.

I am having regular toxo screening in this pregnancy. I believe that the length of time they're asking you to wait is due to the incubation period so I wouldn't push to have an earlier test. I would just try to avoid all risks from now on.