Meats & Poultry
Beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and more. Cooking temperature is crucial during pregnancy.
Beef Beef is safe during pregnancy but must be cooked thoroughly — no pink or rare meat. Avoid rare steaks, rare burgers, and steak tartare. Eat with caution Chicken Chicken is safe to eat during pregnancy as long as it is cooked thoroughly — no pink meat and juices running clear. Safe to eat Deli Meats & Cured Meats Deli meats such as salami, ham, and chorizo are generally considered safe by the NHS. To reduce any Listeria risk, heating them until steaming hot before eating is a sensible precaution. Eat with caution Lamb Lamb is safe during pregnancy but must be cooked thoroughly with no pink meat remaining. Slow-cooked lamb is an excellent choice. Eat with caution Liver & Pâté Liver and all types of pâté — including vegetable pâté — should be avoided during pregnancy due to high vitamin A content and Listeria risk. Avoid during pregnancy Pork Pork is safe during pregnancy but must be cooked thoroughly — no pink meat remaining. This includes bacon, sausages, pork chops, and all pork products. Eat with caution