Ham
Hot, freshly cooked ham is safe during pregnancy. Cold sliced or pre-packaged ham carries the same small Listeria risk as other deli meats, so it's worth taking a little extra care.
Last updated: September 2026 Cross-checked against NHS guidance
Ham splits into two quite different situations depending on how it's served. A hot roast ham or gammon joint, or a sandwich made with ham that's just come off a hot roast, is safe without any special precautions — the cooking heat deals with any Listeria risk. Cold sliced ham, whether from a supermarket packet or a deli counter, sits in the same category as other cold cured and processed meats such as salami or pastrami: it isn't cooked at high heat during final preparation, so there's a small theoretical Listeria risk, which matters more in pregnancy because Listeria is one of the few bacteria that can grow at refrigerator temperatures and can cause serious harm to a baby even when a mother's own symptoms are mild. In practice, listeriosis from ham is rare, and NHS guidance doesn't single ham out as something to avoid — but the US FDA takes a more cautious line and recommends heating all deli meats, ham included, until steaming hot before eating. A simple, low-effort approach that satisfies both: if you're eating ham cold, choose it freshly sliced rather than a pack that's been open in the fridge for several days, and if you'd rather not think about it at all, a hot ham sandwich or a few minutes under the grill removes any concern entirely.
What to be aware of
- Hot ham — a roast joint, gammon, or a hot sandwich made from freshly cooked ham — is safe with no special precautions.
- Cold sliced ham carries the same small Listeria risk as other deli and cured meats; the NHS allows it cold, while the US FDA recommends heating it first.
- If eating ham cold, choose freshly sliced ham and eat it promptly rather than a pack that's been open in the fridge for several days.
- Heating ham until steaming hot — even briefly under a grill or in a hot sandwich — removes any Listeria concern.
What to eat instead
- Turkey — A lower-risk cold-meat option that doesn't carry the same deli-meat Listeria considerations.
US guidance
The FDA and USDA in the US advise pregnant women to heat all deli and cured meats — including ham — until steaming hot (74°C / 165°F) before eating, a more cautious line than current NHS guidance, which allows cold consumption.