chorizo........same idea as parma ham? is it a no no?

[madremia09]

i love the stuff, really would like to carry on eating it,is it a no no and is it because of toxoplasmosis/listeria or something??? how risky is it if at all? thanks

Is parma ham not allowed?

apparently not! have seen a few threads on here about it........

I eat chorizo if its cooked (which it always is - not sure you can eat it raw can you ?)

you buy it at the deli and they cut it like salami etc....is it cooked then??? it is definately ready to eat.

Oh, I love parma ham and chorizo.

I tested negative for toxoplasmosis a few weeks ago and figured that what with 2 cats, a major parma ham habit and a fondness for rare steak, I'd probably have caught it by now.

I have never heard that parma ham or chorizo should be avoided in pregnancy, and neither appear on the NHS info or the Food Standard Agency lists.

Sorry, that should have read... "lists of foods to avoid in pregnancy"

Sorry - you can eat it raw. I always buy a whole one and use it in cooking so only eat it cooked iyswim. Otherwise, I suspect it would be the same rules as parma ham etc.

In Italy they recommend Parma ham in pregnancy!

Oh dear this "not allowed" crap really bugs me.

A small amount of anything is not going to harm you or your baby.

Think for yourself and take responsibility for your own choices and stop relying on government issued "allowed" and "not allowed" lists.

For the record I had wine, rare steak, goat's cheese, brie, peanut butter, runny eggs and chicken liver pate during pregnancy. I'm fine, baby's the picture of health.

French, Italian and Spanish women don't stop eating these things when pregnant. Who do so many british ones? The words Nanny State spring to mind.

Completely agree, Bunny.

brilliant thanks.......(heads to fridge to grab a handful of slices)

Mmm, runny eggs. I've also failed to give up caffeine but have cut myself down from 9 cups of tea a day to 3, but that was more because of a vague notion that I didn't want the baby to have to go through too much caffeine withdrawal after birth.

I haven't had any peanut butter... but that's probably because I'm allergic to it already

I think we all know what we need to do to be responsible pregnant ladies: I've packed in the skydiving, for instance.

No parma ham! I'm in shock - its a staple receipe ingredient in our house. Parma ham and leeks, parma ham in risotto.....and chorizo is on the menu tonight with steamed hake and chickpeas which I'm also going to be eating as it looking lovely on when cooked last Sunday on Something for the weekend.

Had delicious parma ham last night. Will continue too.

Chorizo comes ready cooked or raw for cooking. If you buy it ready sliced in packets from the deli it will be cooked.

Just take care that you are not buying the raw product to eat uncooked.

parma ham is fine if it is cooked and hot - the reason to avoid cold sliced parms ham is because it's raw. Cooked with leeks or in risotto is absolutely fine.

Um, actually, no Bunny, what you say isn't true about France. I live in France and I am toxoplasmosis negative and I've been told no charcuterie which includes uncooked meats and smoked products (i.e. not cooked). Smoked fish is considered a no-no here for any pregnant lady (mainly because the quality isn't as high as in the British Isles). Being toxo negative is quite uncommon here in France and they are very, very hot on it. I have blood tests every month and my doctor, who had previously been quite relaxed about what I ate and didn't eat, gave me a stern talking to about eating the wrong things when she read my blood test results.

And tbh, yes it's everyone's choice how they handle it, but it's not true that a little of something won't do you any harm: the other day I read a thread where someone had lost a baby to toxoplasmosis due to eating undercooked meat on one occasion. If you're worried, follow the guidelines and don't take the risks; if you feel well-informed and more relaxed about it then make your own choices. The guidelines are there to help protect babies, not to spite pregnant women. I don't have time to do medical research and tests or read all published research on these matters, so I put my trust in the guidelines.

I try to be a little relaxed about it - for example I haven't read anywhere that caffeine must be eliminated, but that a certain amount can, possibly, increase the risk of miscarriage. So I still drink one cup a day rather than the five espressos I previously drank.

I disagree with you julesjules, I am actually Italian and I can confirm that Parma ham is not allowed in Italy, one of my friends is a midwife there and she has been asking me why as a toxoplasmosis negative I don't get tested in the UK once a month like they do in Italy and she has given me a long list of things I should avoid and Parma ham is one of them as it is raw meat. Parma ham does carry a small risk of toxoplasmosis, it is small and most people could have some during their pregnancy and be fine, but there is a small chance of becoming infected and I think that pregnant women should avoid eating it as it can cause severe damages to the baby.

I have a Spanish friend who had her baby in the UK. She said that in the UK they told her not to eat peanuts but that chorizo was fine. In Spain, they tell you not to eat chorizo but peanuts are OK: So when she was in the UK she ate chorizo and when she was in Spain, stuffed herself with peanuts. Baby fine

I mean, we have to be careful, but the risks are small - you have to decide if you're willing to take the risk, basically.

I've just read this whole thread feeling so jealous of you all.

Normally LOVE chorizo. But the smell and texture of it turns my stomach. I'm so sad.

Can't wait for a slap up meal with all these foods that even if I can eat (following guidelines) I just don't want stops off in a huff at my stupid taste buds

Since my last pregnancy in 2011 my understanding the UK advice had changed.

I'm sure the nhs website says if Parma ham has been previously frozen you're ok. So if you buy a pack from the supermarket that says it's ok to freeze it, frezze it, defrost it, then eat it.

Chorizo for cooking is ok if you do exactly that. One would assume the chorizo deli meat would be fine if you follow the freezing method.

However, I've not got round to trying this myself, I'm too engrained in what was deemed ok in 2011!

I just checked it says you reduce the risk by freezing...I suppose it's our choice.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/foods-to-avoid-pregnant.aspx#close

I've so far eaten everything on the not allowed list

The human race should have died out a long time ago according to the NHS or the NeuroticHS as I fondly call it.

There are cultures all over the world who have either unpasteurised dairy or poorly cured or raw - meats as their diet staple. (Oh and they live with their livestock who crap in their houses)
They have healthy babies and the majority of their infant/mother mortality is down to no medical care during birth and disease afterwards.

Having lived in a third world country I find it incredibly yawn inducing, listening to pregnant women delight in listing all the things they are not allowed to eat, and then proceed to moan how much they miss this or that.

And how often does that list change - every 5 minutes!

As long as you're not completely stupid and have a healthy diet you can eat everything in moderation.

Will now hide annoying thread.