Can Pregnant Women Eat Pizza? Risks and Safety Tips

When we hear the word pizza, our mouth waters automatically. Pizza is a popular Italian snack that is enjoyed by almost all age groups, especially children – but is it safe to have pizza during pregnancy? Owing to the cravings that pregnant women experience during this crucial period, this question makes sense. A delicious, cheesy, hot, sizzling pizza can always be tempting, but it’s important to understand its effect on your health because it’s not just you anymore – your baby’s health matters too! So, can you eat pizza while pregnant? Let’s find the answer to this question below in the article.

Is Pizza Good for Pregnancy?

The question that can genuinely bother a pregnant woman who adores pizza is – “Is pizza safe during pregnancy?” Well, pizza falls under the category of junk food which is not at all a recommended diet option for pregnant women, assuming the calories and the harmful effects of refined wheat flour on the body of the pregnant woman and the foetus (1). However, if the pizza is homemade from scratch, or is from a good brand that has quality standard ingredients and service, then it is safe to consume occasionally.

If you’re eating pizza during pregnancy, try to find the right balance between the veggies and cheese so that you don’t end up eating too much of one and too less of the other. This will not only help serve your temptations but also ensure that you get all your required nutrients. Also, it is best to eat pizza during the first trimester of pregnancy as it is only after that that you will require nutrient-rich food more often.

Are There Any Benefits of Eating Pizza During Pregnancy?

Talking about the benefits of pizza during pregnancy, we have listed out some that you need to consider:

• Pizza is classified as a comfort food item, which can directly or indirectly cheer you up.
• Pizza can provide some of the required nutrients and vitamins when you top it with fresh ingredients.
• It can help soothe your cravings and may not even harm you if the pizza is freshly made.
• Topping the pizza with high-quality sauces that contain vitamins A and C can help you immensely during pregnancy. The tomatoes present in the sauce contain the antioxidant lycopene, which helps mitigate the chances of developing cancer.
• Selecting a thin crust pizza base which is high in fibre can prove to be beneficial.
• Choose to top your pizza with part-skim mozzarella cheese as it can provide bone-building calcium and protein.

What Are the Harmful Effects of Eating Pizza While Pregnant?

Pizza has more harmful effects than benefits. Here are some harmful effects of eating pizza:

• Certain cheeses like Danish blue, camembert and brie contain mould-ripened bacteria, which contains listeria. These bacteria can cause a rare illness with symptoms similar to the flu (2).
• Topping your pizza with a lot of cheese can lead to high consumption of calories which would, in turn, lead to weight gain (1).
• Eating pizza can also cause heartburn or issues with the digestive system.
• Topping your pizza with pepperoni can be harmful as it contains saturated fats. Such fats are not good for heart health, and when consumed in excess, can also cause gestational diabetes.
• If your pizza is raw, not properly cooked or heated, which is generally in case of raw meat toppings such as salami, chorizo or pepperoni, it may lead to an infectious disease called toxoplasmosis (3).

In a study conducted in 2017 on rodents, scientists found that rats who consumed junk food during pregnancy gave birth to mice who were heavier and directly craved fat after weaning (4). A balanced diet developed soon after helped them with the craving for fatty food, but the mices’ brain activity still remained altered to crave fatty food well into adulthood. What you eat affects your baby, so it’s wise to eat well as much as you can.

How Much Pizza Is Okay to Eat While Pregnant?

Eating pizza while pregnant is okay in moderation, about one to two slices at a time, as long as the cheese is pasteurised and the toppings are fully cooked.

Safe and Unsafe Pizza Toppings While Pregnant

Let’s take a look at some of the safe and unsafe pizza toppings during pregnancy.

Safe

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Cooked Mushroom
• Cheddar, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese

Unsafe

• Raw meat
• Ricotta, soft goat cheese, and soft blue cheese
• Runny egg yolk

Things to Avoid in Pizza While Consuming It in Pregnancy

Here are some things to avoid in pizza when you are pregnant.

1. Soft Cheese

Pregnant women must avoid pizzas made with soft cheeses as these could carry bacteria called listeria that could cause the listeriosis infection. This infection can make you vomit, or cause fever, weakness, and stiff neck (5).

2. Smoked and Refrigerated Seafood

Smoked and refrigerated seafood have chances of listeria growing on them and, therefore, are best to avoid as pizzas toppings (6).

3. Deli Meat

Deli meat could also be listeria contaminated and cause unnecessary complications in pregnancy and affect foetal development (7).

4. Raw Shellfish

Pregnant women should also avoid pizzas made using clams, mussels, oysters, or any other shellfish when pregnant. Consuming this can cause infection, leading to pregnancy complications.

5. Spreads Made Using Raw Eggs

Spreads made with raw eggs could be exposed to salmonella. Therefore, you must avoid it (8).

6. Raw Meat

Raw meat should never be eaten on pizza because it may contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria. These bacteria are especially dangerous during pregnancy, as they can lead to severe foodborne illness and increase risks for both the mother and the baby (9).

How to Eat Pizza Safely While Pregnant?

Many people wonder how pizza and pregnancy can go together while still keeping meals safe and healthy. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your favourite slice wisely.

• Eat only thoroughly cooked and heated pizza as the heat helps kill most of the bacteria certain toppings may carry (6).
• Try and order pizza only from reputed brands as they provide good quality food.
• Eat the pizza fresh as keeping it uneaten for a long period of time can cause the reformation of bacteria (10).
• In case you like your pizza topped with meat or shellfish, make sure it is cooked well (9).
• Prefer topping your pizza with vegetables as they contain essential nutrients a pregnant woman needs.
• Eating only one or two slices of pizza is recommended as it is a balanced option compared to an entire pizza.
• Refrain from eating pizza topped with cold cured meats.
• Refrain from eating pizza topped with mould-ripened cheese such as brie, camembert or Danish blue as they contain listeria bacteria (2).
• It is best to top your pizza with parmesan or cheddar cheese. These are hard cheese options which contain less water, thus lead to fewer chances of a microbe formation (11).

Healthy Pizza Recipes

Let’s take a look at some healthy and delicious recipes of pizza for pregnancy that you can try making at home.

1. Olive and Basil Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 thin-crust pizza base
• ½ cup basil leaves
• ½ cup chopped tomatoes
• ½ cup diced bell peppers (green)
• ¼ cup sliced black olives
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
• 8 oz tomato sauce

How to Make

1. Preheat the oven to a temperature of 400° F.
2. Take the pizza crust, and spread the tomato sauce over it.
3. Sprinkle shredded cheese all over the base and top it with diced and topped vegetables.
4. Bake it in the oven for 12-15 minutes, and the pizza is ready.

2. Kale, Squash, and Chicken Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 freshly made pizza base
• 1 cup of squash puree
• 1 cup chopped squash
• Chicken breast, cooked in 2 tsp oil
• 1 ½ cup chopped kale
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 tbsp freshly minced sage
• 3 tbsp pepitas or pumpkin seeds
• 4 oz pasteurised goat cheese
• 1 sliced leek
• 4 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• ¼tsp salt
• ¼tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp brown sugar

How to Make

1. Preheat the oven and mix sage, squash puree, pepper, and salt in a bowl.
2. Heat two teaspoons of oil and sauté the leeks.
3. Add balsamic vinegar and sugar, and stir it well.
4. Take the pizza base and spread the mixture of squash and sage on it.
5. Add the pizza toppings – squash, kale, chicken, mushrooms, leeks, and cheese.
6. Bake it for 15 minutes, garnish it with toasted pepitas and serve hot.

3. Tomato, Corn, and Paneer Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 thin-crust pizza base
• ½ cup diced paneer (or firm tofu)
• ½ cup sweet corn
• ½ cup sliced tomatoes
• ¼ cup sliced onions
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 8 oz tomato sauce

How to Make

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Brush or spread tomato sauce over the crust.
3. Add paneer, corn, tomatoes, and onions.
4. Sprinkle cheese on top.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

4. Pesto Veggie Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 whole-wheat pizza base
• 3 tbsp basil pesto
• ½ cup spinach
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes
• ½ cup sliced bell peppers
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

How to Make

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Spread the pesto across the base, letting it coat the crust completely.
3. Add the spinach first so it sits under the toppings, then scatter the tomatoes and bell peppers.
4. Finish with a layer of mozzarella.
5. Bake until the cheese melts and the vegetables soften, creating a fragrant, golden pizza.

Alternatives to Pizza in Pregnancy

Here are some healthy and pregnancy-friendly alternatives to pizza that still satisfy cravings without the extra grease or heavy toppings. These options provide balanced nutrition while keeping food safety in mind.

• Whole-grain flatbreads with cooked veggies and cheese.
• Veggie quesadillas made with whole-wheat tortillas.
• Stuffed pita pockets with grilled chicken and vegetables.
• Baked sweet potato rounds topped with cooked toppings and cheese.
• Toasted English muffins with tomato sauce and melted cheese.

FAQs

1. Is it normal to have cravings for pizza in pregnancy?

Yes, it is quite normal to have a pizza craving when pregnant. But do consult your doctor before making it a part of your pregnancy diet.

2. Can I eat pepperoni pizza during pregnancy?

If you are wondering, “Is pepperoni safe during pregnancy,” then you have a reason to rejoice as you can eat pepperoni pizza during this time.

We realise that pizza is a tempting food item, but it should be avoided to an extent during pregnancy. However, if you are a pizza lover and can’t control your cravings, there is no much harm in eating a sizzling hot pizza on an occasional basis. Do consider to consume your slice of pizza keeping in mind the above-mentioned tips. Happy eating!

Also Read: 

Soft Drinks while Pregnant
Miso Soup when Pregnant
Eating Mussels in Pregnancy
Eating Burgers During Pregnancy – Is It Safe?

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Sources References

1. Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research – Can Pregnant Women Eat Pizza? A Gynecologist Answers!

2. NHS – Foods to avoid in pregnancy

3. National Library of Medicine – Eating Raw, Undercooked, or Cold Meats and Seafood

4. PubMed – A maternal ‘junk food’ diet in pregnancy and lactation promotes an exacerbated taste for ‘junk food’ and a greater propensity for obesity in rat offspring

5. Nemours KidsHealth – Food Safety During Pregnancy

6. FoodSafety.gov – People at Risk: Pregnant Women

7. PubMed Central – Food-borne illnesses during pregnancy

8. Tommy’s – Is it safe to eat raw or runny eggs in pregnancy?

9. March of Dimes – Foods to avoid or limit during pregnancy

10. The Royal Women’s Hospital – Food safety in pregnancy

11. NHS inform – Eating well in pregnancy