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Off Salads & Salmonella

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As you no doubt know there is an issue with respect to Salmonella infections in pre-prepared salads that can be purchased in plastic bags, usually from supermarkets. A couple of patients have already contacted me having consumed such salads.

Now first things first. Salmonella is an extremely unpleasant infection and well worth avoiding but it does NOT specifically cross the placenta and target babies (unlike Listeria, CMV, Parvo – “slapped cheek” – and Toxoplasma). Babies can only come to harm if their mothers become dehydrated from the infection. This means that if you have no symptoms your baby is fine.

Secondly however – and I thought I did tell people this at their first visit – I would NEVER consume a pre-prepared salad in pregnancy anyway because of the risk of Listeria infection. (Actually I’m not pregnant and I would never eat a pre-prepared supermarket salad myself). A salad made the same day in a restaurant, café or salad bar should be ok.

So the food rules are simple:

  • Anything that is fully cooked through and served hot is fine
  • Food that has been cooked OR pre-prepared IN ANY WAY, refrigerated and served cold is NOT ok.

Have a safe weekend.

– Rob

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