You’re asked to sacrifice a lot when you get pregnant. First your body, then your food and drink options. People who are pregnant are usually told to stay away from foods like soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk, and some seafood. But if you really want a roast beef sandwich, you could grab one quickly at your local deli or Arby’s. But before you do so, you might also find yourself asking, “can I eat roast beef while pregnant?”.
Having very specific cravings is a normal part of being pregnant, but you also know that there are a lot of rules about what you can and can’t eat. So, what should you do if you’re craving a classic Arby’s meal with lots of Arby’s sauce? It turns out that pregnant women can safely eat some things from the restaurant chain, but others, like Arby’s roast beef, might not be safe to eat.
While you are pregnant, you will have to give up some of the things you want in order to keep yourself and your baby safe. To find out why roast beef and other similar items on the Arby’s menu aren’t really safe for pregnant women, keep reading.
When you’re pregnant, there are many things you shouldn’t eat. You may have liked deli meats like roast beef before you got pregnant. Now that you’re pregnant, you may be wondering if you can still eat Arby’s famous roast beef sandwiches.
As someone who just announced her pregnancy last month I have been doing a lot of research into what foods are safe and what foods I should avoid. One of my favorite quick meals before getting pregnant was always an Arby’s roast beef sandwich. I love the taste of the juicy roast beef with Arby’s sauce. So naturally one of the first things I looked into was whether or not I could still satisfy my roast beef cravings over the next 9 months.
After digging into the research and asking my doctor I learned that there are some definite risks associated with eating deli meats like roast beef from Arby’s while pregnant. However there are also ways I can modify my order to reduce the risks if I really want to enjoy an Arby’s roast beef sandwich during my pregnancy.
Here are some things I’ve learned about the risks, some ways to lower those risks, and my plan for still going to Arby’s every once in a while while I’m pregnant.
Why is Deli Meat Considered Risky During Pregnancy?
The main concern with deli meats like roast beef during pregnancy is listeria, a type of bacteria that can contaminate foods and cause an infection called listeriosis. Listeriosis is rare, but pregnant women are at a higher risk of getting it from contaminated foods.
Listeria bacteria are killed by high heat. But with deli meats like roast beef, the meat is usually just sliced and served without being fully cooked. This means live listeria bacteria could still be present and lead to infection.
So why are pregnant women more at risk? When you’re pregnant, your immune system is naturally weaker so your body has a harder time fighting off infections like listeriosis. Normally listeria infection may just cause flu-like symptoms in healthy adults. But in pregnant women, it can lead to serious complications like miscarriage, preterm birth, and illness or death of the baby after birth.
Clearly, this is really scary stuff! The key is just being aware of the risks and smart about how you handle and prepare deli meats.
Tips to Reduce the Risk from Deli Meats
Okay, so now we know deli meats may pose a listeria risk during pregnancy. But what if you are really craving an Arby’s roast beef sandwich like I sometimes do? Here are some tips to enjoy deli meats more safely:
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Cook deli meats thoroughly – High heat kills listeria. If you cook roast beef or other deli meat to 165°F (steaming hot), it will be safe to eat. You could cook deli meat at home before making a sandwich.
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Microwave cold cuts – Ask your Arby’s or sandwich shop to microwave cold cuts for 30 seconds before making your sandwich. This heat treatment reduces listeria levels.
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Avoid cross-contamination – Be cautious of contamination from utensils used on multiple meats. Use a fresh knife, plate, etc.
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Check expiration dates – Choose freshly prepared meats and check expiration dates to make sure everything is as fresh as possible.
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Limit portions – Eating deli meats infrequently in small portions reduces your overall risk.
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Try lower-risk meats – Opt for chicken, turkey, or plant-based meats as they carry lower risk of listeria.
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Ask questions – Ask your Arby’s or any restaurant how they handle, store, and prepare cold cuts to feel confident about their safety practices.
My Plan for Enjoying Arby’s While Pregnant
Armed with all this knowledge, I came up with a plan that will allow me to safely enjoy Arby’s roast beef in moderation during my pregnancy. Here is my personal plan:
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I will only have an Arby’s roast beef sandwich occasionally, not more than once per week.
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When I do go, I will ask them to microwave the roast beef for 30 seconds before making my sandwich.
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I will examine the roast beef closely and not eat it if it looks slimy or off.
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I will request they use a fresh, clean knife and prepare my sandwich away from other meats.
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I will stick to a junior size sandwich to limit my portion.
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For added safety, I can heat up leftover sandwiches at home until steaming before eating.
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On days I don’t eat roast beef, I may order a chicken or turkey sandwich from Arby’s instead.
With this plan, I can still satisfy my pregnancy craving for Arby’s roast beef sandwiches now and then. By taking some minor precautions, I can reduce the overall risk to a level I am comfortable with.
Of course, talk to your own doctor about your diet and any deli meat concerns during pregnancy. But for many women, enjoying deli meats in moderation with proper handling is considered safe. It’s all about being an informed consumer and making smart choices to keep risks low.
Listeriosis risk during pregnancy
You’ve never gotten sick from eating deli meats, so what’s the big deal when you’re pregnant? Eating a sandwich might not seem dangerous, but it is important to know the risks of Listeria. It turns out that pregnancy puts you more at risk for getting listeriosis. The CDC found that healthy people who are not pregnant are 20 times less likely to get listeriosis than pregnant people who are healthy.
Clark says, “If a pregnant person gets listeriosis, the infection is usually asymptomatic, which means the person has no symptoms.” “If there are symptoms, they are usually like those someone would have with the flu, but with GI symptoms like diarrhea.” All of that doesn’t sound too bad for the pregnant person, but Listeria can really mess up the pregnancy.
“Listeriosis in pregnancy can cause pregnancy loss, preterm labor, and fetal infection,” Clark says. “The fetus is more likely to be affected if the infection happens late in pregnancy. It can lead to intellectual disability, paralysis, seizures, blindness, or problems with the brain, heart, or kidneys.” If neonatal infection occurs, sepsis, meningitis, and even death can result. ”.
Roast beef during pregnancy
You’ll need to be careful when ordering a sandwich at Arby’s because most of the menu is made up of deli meats. Luncheon meats such as roast beef and turkey aren’t very safe for pregnant people. “Hot dogs, lunch meats, and cold cuts (whether served cold or at room temperature) are high-risk foods for Listeria,” Dr. Shannon M. Clark, M. D. in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG). She talks to Romper about her work. Listeria is a bacteria that can make you sick from eating certain foods, and it can be very bad for pregnant women and their babies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeria is the third leading cause of death from food poisoning in the United States. The bacteria L. monocytogenes is what causes listeriosis in immunocompromised individuals — including pregnant people, children, and the elderly — when they ingest it through improperly cooked or heated food sources, such as deli meats. “The bacterium is a big concern at the food preparation step, where cross-contamination from unclean surfaces can spread bacteria and where lurking bacteria in uncooked meat can grow during refrigeration,” Irrem Jamal, M.Sc., Long Island-based microbiologist and food safety expert, tells Romper.
The Truth About Arby’s Roast Beef
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