Pregnancy food checker · United States
Can I eat deli meat while pregnant?
You are holding sliced turkey, ham, or a sub-shop sandwich. The check is whether the meat was heated again after it was sliced.
Short answer
Heat deli meat to 165°F (74°C), or until it is steaming hot, before you eat it. Cold sliced turkey, ham, and sub-shop meat are the riskier choice.
Heat the meat, not just the bread
- Can you heat the meat to 165°F (74°C) or until steam rises from it?
- Is only the bread warm, while the meat in the middle is still cold?
- Has it sat out longer than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C)?
From the pack or the counter to the first bite
Treat packaged and counter-sliced meat the same
Deli meat can pick up Listeria after cooking, including from equipment, surfaces, and hands. A sealed pack is not a reason to skip reheating.
Guidance sources: CDC [1]
Heat until the meat itself steams
CDC lists deli meat heated to 165°F (74°C), or until steaming hot, as the safer choice. Warm bread with cold meat in the middle does not meet that check.
Guidance sources: CDC [3]
Continue reading: Can I eat hot dogs while pregnant?
Limit time out of the refrigerator
Keep perishable meat at 40°F (4°C) or below. Discard it after 2 hours at room temperature, or after 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
Guidance sources: FDA [2]
Continue reading: Can I eat leftovers while pregnant?
Match the sandwich in front of you
Use the row that matches what you are about to eat. Then do that check before the first bite.
| What you have | The check | If you cannot finish it |
|---|---|---|
| A sealed pack of sliced turkey or ham | Heat the meat to 165°F (74°C) or until it steams. | Choose a different meal if you cannot heat it. |
| A cold sub from the counter | Ask the shop to heat the meat until it steams. | Leave off the cold cuts. |
| A sandwich that already feels hot | Check the meat, not the toasted bread. | Ask for more heat until the meat steams. |
A warm roll can hide cold meat. Open it and check the slices.
Questions at the counter
Are salami and pepperoni different from turkey slices?
No. CDC groups fermented and dry sausages, including salami and pepperoni, with meats that can be contaminated after processing. Heat them to 165°F (74°C) or until steaming hot.
Does a toasted sub count as reheated?
Only if the meat is steaming hot, not only the bread. FDA says not to eat deli and luncheon meats unless they are reheated until steaming hot.
Guidance sources: FDA [2]
I already ate it cold. What should I do?
This page cannot judge a serving you already ate. FDA notes that Listeria can be particularly harmful in pregnancy. Contact your prenatal clinician if you feel unwell.
Guidance sources: FDA [2]
Background and other choices
What matters for deli meat
- Listeria can contaminate deli meat after cooking.
- Refrigeration slows Listeria. It does not kill it.
- Prepacked slices and counter-sliced meat both need reheating.
Safer next steps
- Ask for a sandwich heated until the meat steams.
- At home, heat the slices until steaming, then eat them hot.
- Skip the cold cuts if they cannot be reheated.
When to contact a clinician
Contact your prenatal clinician if you ate a food discussed here and feel unwell, have been told you have a higher-risk pregnancy, or need advice for your individual circumstances. Seek urgent medical care for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.
Browse by food
deli meat · All foods →Sources and editorial context
The food advice and preparation steps draw on the references below. Follow the links if you would like to read the original guidance in full.
What changed · Added reheating steps, a sandwich check table, and the 165°F or steaming-hot endpoint.
Can I Eat Editorial Team. Published for readers in United States. Content last updated 2026-10-18.
Reading a long package ingredient list?
Search the food in Can I Eat for related pregnancy checks. The heat and time limits above still decide this meat.
Can I Eat provides general food safety information and dietary risk reminders only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or a replacement for your clinician.