Coleslaw and listeria infection

[kat82]

i am really worried as 28wks pg and have been eating coleslaw during pregnancy , have now found out I could of contracted Listeria infection and put my baby at risk. can anyone offer me any reassurance?

I think that coleslaw is only a problem if it is made with mayonnaise which contains unpastuerised eggs? All the bought ones are pastuerised, so no worries.

Why would you get listeria from coleslaw? Do you make your own with uncooked eggs? If so, 10 out of ten for effort, if not, no problem.

I don't think shop bought coleslaw is a problem. I have heard that listeria is incredibly rare anyway - so I would try not to get stressed, and if it would make you feel better, not eat any more coleslaw.

If you contract Listeria, doesn't it make you really ill? My mum had it, and was poorly for days. So it may well be that if you've not been ill (I think it's flu-like symptoms plus diarrhoea and vomiting), you're completely in the clear regardless of whether the eggs were cooked or not!

You can get listeria from pretty much anything - food hygiene is far more important than avoidance.

Thanks everyone for your comments, will try not to worry too much! i have just looked on the nhs direct website , and they say its rare to contract but best to avoid coleslaw and potato salad so gonna steer clear for remainder of pregnancy to be on safe side.

You are more likely to get Listeria from the veg than from unpasteurised eggs IME. Listeria is ubiquitious in the environment and loves food factories.

Shop bought coleslaw will have checks in place to ensure the risk from Listeria is minute and as someone else said it is very rare anyway.

I am pregnant and used to be a food microbiologist and a Listeria expert (very very sad I know) and have eaten coleslaw throughout my pregnancies.

I have eaten shop bought coleswlaw throughout pg (26 weeks now) on the basis thta I have done for years and never got anything nasty from it before.

Another vote for eating coleslaw here (hardly scientific!) unless made with raw eggs in the mayo.

I love coleslaw, I am pregnant and have eaten pots of it. However, I always only eat shop bought ones so I can check the egg is pasteurised in the mayo. You'll be fine.

I eat coleslaw
and soft cheese
and prawns
and the occasional glass of wine

you will no doubt be totally fine

If it makes you feel better to avoid it, then avoid it. You can make home made coleslaw, washing the vegetables well and using mayonnaise out of a jar, I'm sure that's fine.