Can You Eat Sausage When Pregnant?

Sausage tastes delicious and can enhance the taste of soups and sandwiches. Many women crave it during pregnancy, and it is safe to include it in a pregnancy diet as long as it is cooked thoroughly and consumed in moderate amounts. When consuming sausage during pregnancy, it is important to choose lean varieties with low sodium content to promote a healthier diet. Additionally, opting for organic or nitrate-free options can reduce the potential risks associated with preservatives. That said, it can also lead to certain unwanted pregnancy complications. So, can you eat sausage when pregnant? Read on to learn more about the benefits and side effects of eating sausage during pregnancy and make an informed decision. Let’s see whether sausage and pregnancy make a good pair.

Can I Eat Sausage While Pregnant?

Yes, sausage is safe to consume during pregnancy. But as with any other meat, you must cook it at the right temperature, for the right time, to cook it to the core with no juices inside. The recommended internal temperature for ground pork, beef, lamb, or veal sausages is 165 °F, whereas the recommended internal temperature for ground turkey and chicken sausages is 160 °F, with no resting time before consuming (1) (2). However, as mentioned before, it is safe to eat, but not the healthiest choice, as it can lead to unnecessary pregnancy complications. Hence, it is suggested that you consult your doctor before including it in your pregnancy diet.

Fresh or cured sausages that are not aged very long, or homemade, can carry the risk of Toxoplasma, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Campylobacter and E.coli. While poultry meat significantly carries Salmonella and Campylobacter, beef is a known transmitter of E.coli. Thus, it is essential, particularly during pregnancy, to consume fresh and thoroughly cooked meat products (3).

Types of Sausages – Safe and Unsafe

Here are some of the common types of sausages. Some are safe to include in a pregnancy diet, while others aren’t. Read on to find out which ones you can include in your diet. However, eat it in moderate amounts.

1. Dry or Semi-Dry Sausage

Dry or semi-dry sausage is usually mixed with meat (chopped or ground), cultured well, and then preserved by adding sodium nitrite and salt. Sausage casings are then used to enclose the filling, where it is allowed to ferment and then dried. Many popular sausages, such as bologna or pepperoni, fall under the dry or semi-dry sausage category.

Safety Tips : In most of the procedures that involve preparing these sausages, such as fermentation and drying, the removal of moisture results in the termination of any bacteria that can cause illnesses. But some of them can still remain. Therefore, it’s best not to have dry sausages while pregnant.

2. Cooked or Smoked Sausage

Sausage made from ground meat or chopped meat seasoned well, cooked and smoked is enjoyed by all. Various sausages, such as cooked bratwurst, salami, bologna, hot dogs, and the like, are either cooked or smoked.

Safety Tips : The process of cooking is what rids these sausages of any bacteria. So if they are not cooked well or hot, avoid eating them.

3. Fresh Sausage

Fresh sausage is made from chopped pieces of meat, cured properly beforehand and seasoned well to be prepared fresh. Most of the sausages made from pork, beef, or other meats, which are great for breakfasts and hail from Italian cuisine, are usually fresh.

Safety Tips : These sausages are quite safe for consumption during pregnancy. However, ensuring they are refrigerated properly when stored and cooked thoroughly before eating is necessary.

4. Grilled Sausage

Grilling sausages can enhance their flavour and create a deliciously charred exterior. To safely consume grilled sausages during pregnancy, ensure they are cooked thoroughly, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to eliminate potential bacteria.

Safety Tips : Avoid charring or blackening the sausages excessively, creating potentially harmful compounds. Serve the grilled sausages hot and cook them evenly throughout before consuming.

5. Boiled Sausage

Boiling sausages is a popular cooking method that ensures even cooking and tenderness. This type is made by placing the sausages in a pot and adding enough water to cover them. Once the water boils, reduce the heat to a simmer and continue cooking the sausages gently in the simmering water until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Safety Tips : Drain the sausages and pat them dry before serving to remove excess moisture. To safely consume boiled sausages during pregnancy, ensure they are cooked thoroughly by boiling them in water until they are tender.

6. Baked Sausage

Baking sausages in the oven can create a crisp outer layer while retaining moisture. Place the sausages on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminium foil to make these. Bake the sausages in the preheated oven until fully cooked, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Safety Tips : To safely consume baked sausages during pregnancy, check for doneness by cutting into the thickest part of the sausage to ensure no remaining pinkness or raw meat.

7. Summer Sausage

Summer sausage is an American term for the type of sausage that can be kept without refrigeration until it is opened. Summer sausage is made of pork, beef, and sometimes venison. It is fermented and can be dried or smoked. Although curing ingredients may vary, curing salt is always used.

Safety Tips : Summer sausage is a high-risk type as it carries the danger of Listeria bacteria, which can cause Listeriosis, a harmful infection. It is best to avoid cold or uncooked summer sausage while pregnant, but if thoroughly heated to an internal temperature of 165°F (∼74°C), it can be consumed.

To make sure that any of these types of sausages are the safest to consume, make sure that you follow certain tips to store, cook and reheat the sausages, as discussed further in the article.

Benefits of Eating Sausage During Pregnancy

Sausage is known to contain amino acids, which contain high-quality protein, making it a healthy option overall. It is also a rich source of vitamins, especially Vitamin B12. Another key element present in substantial levels in sausage is iron. This further complements keeping the haemoglobin levels of the blood to an optimal level, which prevents the onset of anaemia.

Side Effects of Consuming Sausage While Pregnant

The following are some side effects of consuming sausages during pregnancy.

1. Premature Delivery or Miscarriage

Eating sausage in pregnancy can lead to the risk of listeria. Listeria is a specific bacterium that can affect the pregnancy, leading to consequences such as premature delivery, miscarriages, and, in the worst scenario, stillbirth.

2. A Higher Chance of Contracting Other Diseases

Symptoms of being infected with Salmonella are severe. Nausea, intense stomach ache, followed by diarrhoea, vomiting, and frequent dehydration, are also some complications that may arise if you eat sausage while pregnant and get infected with Salmonella bacteria (4). This may be further compounded by high fever and body pain. Another parasite, causing toxoplasmosis, can lead to premature delivery, jaundice, and convulsions in the mother.

3. Heartburn

Having a lot of spicy sausages can cause heartburn (5), and you may have trouble sleeping.

4. Pregnancy Complications

There is always a high chance of any microbe being alive in the meat, which can lead to unwanted pregnancy complications. So it is suggested that you cook it properly before including it in your pregnancy diet, and avoid any complications.

5. An Increased Amount of Sodium and Fat in the Body

Nearly 27% of sausage comprises fat, and 10% comprises saturated fats. Similarly, 1.2% of the sausage is made up of sodium. By consuming two high-salt sausages for breakfast, you might unknowingly be ingesting half of the daily recommended limit of 6g of salt (6).

Eating too much sausage can increase sodium and fat content in your body and result in unwanted complications, such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension (GHTN), which are responsible for 10–15% of maternal deaths globally (7).

Furthermore, high intake of salt during pregnancy can affect the development of the fetus’s kidneys. Some of these fetal alterations may persist after birth, potentially increasing the risk of developing renal or cardiovascular diseases (8).

6. Digestive Issues

Some pregnant women may experience digestive issues such as bloating, gas, or constipation from consuming sausage. This can be attributed to the high-fat content in certain sausages, which can slow digestion. To alleviate these symptoms, it’s advisable to choose leaner sausage options and pair them with fibre-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

7. Allergic Reactions

Although rare, some individuals may be allergic to certain sausage ingredients, such as spices, preservatives, or additives. Allergic reactions can range from mild symptoms like itching or hives to severe reactions like difficulty breathing or anaphylaxis. If you have a known food allergy or suspect an allergy to sausage ingredients, it’s important to avoid consuming sausages and consult your dietician for precise guidance.

Tips for Eating Sausages Safely in Pregnancy

If you want to eat sausages during pregnancy, here are some tips you should keep in mind.

• Always consume the sausage when it is piping hot. If not, always reheat it to the appropriate temperature and then consume it.
• Avoid eating sausages that are not cooked well.
• Store sausages in the fridge for no more than two days. While consuming them after the specified duration, make sure they are heated fully again and cooked until hot.
• Make sure that any raw meat is not placed close to the sausage you want to eat. The juices of the meat could enter the sausage and cause bacteria to thrive.
• Some sausages are uncooked; others are ready-to-eat. Make sure you cook both at the right temperature before consuming them.
• Always opt for less spicy sausages with substantially low amounts of sodium.
• Store them properly in the refrigerator or freezer to prevent bacterial growth.
• Use separate utensils and cutting boards for raw and cooked sausages to avoid cross-contamination, and 
• If reheating leftover sausages, ensure they are heated to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before consumption.

Sausage Recipes for Pregnant Women

If you want to enjoy some delicious sausage dishes, here are a few recipes you can try.

1. Baked Sausages With Butterbeans

Baked sausages with butterbeans taste delicious. Here is how you can make them.

Ingredients:

• Sausages – 4-5
• Drained butterbeans – 2 cups
• Brown onion (chopped) – 1
• Coriander leaves
• Tomatoes (chopped) – 1
• Garlic cloves – 2-3
• Capsicums chopped – 2

How to Prepare:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C for about 20-25 minutes.
2. Place the onions, capsicums, and sausages on top in a baking tray. Keep the tray in the oven and cook for 18-20 minutes.
3. Once cooked, add the butterbeans, garlic, and tomatoes to them, and mix well.
4. Add some water until the mix is juicy.
5. Follow it up with sausages and cover it with foil. Place the tray in the oven and cook it for the same duration.
6. Remove it and garnish with coriander before serving.

2. Sausage Casserole

Sausage casserole tastes delicious, plus it is filling too. Here’s the recipe for sausage casserole.

Ingredients:

• Sausages – 6-7
• Boiled potatoes – 2
• Cheddar cheese – 1 cup
• Tomato puree – 1 cup
• Curry powder – 1 tsp
• Chicken stock
• Sunflower oil – 1-2 tbsp
• Drained beans – 1 cup
• Bean sauce – 1 cup
• Carrots – 1/2 cup
• Chopped onion (medium-sized) – 1
• Water

How to Prepare:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Heat some oil in a pan and fry the sausages in it. Transfer them to a plate, then fry the onions and carrots.
3. Add the beans, tomato puree, curry powder, and chicken stock to the mix, and let it cook on low flame for 8-10 minutes.
4. Mash the boiled potatoes in a separate bowl.
5. Take a casserole dish and place a few sausages in it. Add the bean sauce and potato mash, then add the bean-tomato curry mixture, followed by some more sausages.
6. Bake it in the oven for about 20 minutes, then enjoy.

3. Honey Glazed Sausages

Want to eat something sweet and spicy? Make honey-glazed sausages. Check out the recipe below –

Ingredients:

• Sausages – 4
• Honey – 3 tbsp
• Vinegar – 1 tsp
• Cinnamon – 1/2 tsp
• Olive oil – 1 tbsp
• Brown sugar – 1 tsp
• Sesame seeds – 1 tsp
• Water
• Oil for cooking

How to Prepare:

4. Take some oil in a pan and cook the sausages for about 20 minutes.
5. In another pan, take some honey and sugar and let it boil.
6. Remove the fat from the sausage pan and cook on medium flame again.
7. Add the vinegar, honey, and sugar mixture to the pan with the sausages. Stir continuously to prevent the sausages from sticking.
8. Once fully cooked, pair them with mashed potatoes and serve.

4. Sausage and Sweet Potato Skillet

Image Credit: Pinterest

Ingredients:

• 4 sausages (any preferred variety)
• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Prepare:

1. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet.
2. Add the sausages and cook until browned on all sides. Remove the sausages from the skillet and set aside.
3. Add the sweet potato, bell peppers, onion, and garlic in the same skillet. Sauté until the vegetables are tender.
4. Slice the sausages into bite-sized pieces and add them to the skillet.
5. Season with dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
6. Cook for a few more minutes until the sausages are heated.
7. Serve hot, and enjoy!

5. Sausage and Spinach Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:

• 4 bell peppers (any preferred colour)
• 4 sausages (removed from the casing)
• 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
•  Salt and pepper to taste

How to Prepare:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cut off the tops of the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes.
3. In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage meat and cook until browned.
4. Add the chopped spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted.
5. Stir in the cooked quinoa and season with dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
6. Stuff each bell pepper with the sausage and spinach mixture.
7. Place the stuffed bell peppers in a baking dish and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the bell peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and golden.
9. Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and serve.

6. Sausage and Potato Hash

Image Credit: Pinterest

Ingredients:

• 4 sausages (any preferred variety)
• 4 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Prepare:

1. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet.
2. Add the sausages and cook until browned on all sides. Remove the sausages from the skillet and set aside.
3. Add the diced potatoes, onion, and bell pepper to the same skillet. Sauté until the potatoes are golden and cooked through.
4. Slice the sausages into bite-sized pieces and add them to the skillet.
5. Sprinkle with paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
6. Cook for a few more minutes until the sausages are heated.
7. Serve hot, and enjoy the delicious sausage and potato hash.

7. One-Pan Sausage and Veggie Roast

Image Credit: Pinterest

When standing in the kitchen feels exhausting, this one-pot recipe comes to the rescue.

Ingredients:

• 4 fully cooked chicken or turkey sausages
• 1 sweet potato, chopped
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Precut all the vegetables and prepare all the rest of the ingredients.
2. Now, preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
3. Spread all the vegetables on a baking tray.
4. Add sliced sausages and generously drizzle olive oil over veggies and sliced sausages.
5. Sprinkle oregano, salt, and pepper. If you want to make it a bit spicy, you can sprinkle a bit of cayenne pepper. But be aware of the spice level.
6. Roast for 30–35 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the sausages are heated through properly.
7. Once done, plate and enjoy!

8. Creamy Sausage and Spinach Pasta

Image Credit: Pinterest

We bet you would have never heard of this teasty, creamy pasta with sausages that feels incredibly comforting. Spinach is added for a nutritional boost. In fact, you can add any vegetable of your choice in this pasta recipe.

Ingredients:

• 250 g whole wheat pasta
• 3 chicken sausages, sliced
• 2 cups spinach
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tbsp cream cheese
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Parmesan cheese for topping

Method:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. Heat olive oil in a pan and cook the sausage slices until browned.
3. Add garlic and spinach, cooking until the spinach wilts.
4. Stir in milk and cream cheese until smooth.
5. Toss in the cooked pasta and mix well.
6. Top with parmesan before serving.

FAQs

1. Is it safe to eat chorizo during pregnancy?

Since it is a pork sausage, it should be consumed moderately. However, it is best avoided.

2. Can I eat hot sausage while pregnant?

Hot sausage tastes delicious, but eating it in large quantities may lead to heartburn. So it is best avoided in pregnancy. If you do want to enjoy hot sausages, consume them only once in a while.

3. Can pregnant women eat Vienna sausage?

Vienna sausage is made from pre-cooked sausage that could have bacteria and also contains elevated levels of nitrites and sodium nitrate. So they are best avoided during pregnancy.

4. Is it safe to consume Italian sausages?

Occasional consumption is not harmful since it has a lot of fat and calories.

5. Is consuming sausage casings during pregnancy safe?

Consuming sausage casings is generally considered safe during pregnancy as long as they are thoroughly cooked and free from any potential contaminants.

6. Are nitrates in sausage unsafe for pregnant women?

If sausages are consumed in moderation during pregnancy, then nitrate consumption will also be low and in moderation. However, excessive intake of nitrates may have potential health risks, so it’s advisable to choose nitrate-free or lower-nitrate options when possible.

7. Is it safe to eat expired sausage while pregnant?

No, it is not safe to eat expired sausage during pregnancy. Expired sausage may contain harmful bacteria that can lead to foodborne illnesses, which can be particularly risky for pregnant women. Always check the expiration date and properly store and handle sausages to ensure food safety.

8. Can sausage cause constipation in pregnancy?

The sausage itself is not a direct cause of constipation in pregnancy. However, some sausages can be high in fat and low in fibre, which may contribute to constipation. Pairing leaner sausage options with fibre-rich foods is advisable to promote regular bowel movements.

9. Does sausage cause gestational diabetes while pregnant?

While sausage does contain fat and protein, which are generally well-tolerated in a gestational diabetes diet, the high sodium and processed nature of some sausages may not be ideal as it increases the risk (9). It’s recommended to consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian for personalised guidance on managing gestational diabetes.

10. Can sausage cause high blood pressure when pregnant?

Regular consumption of sausages, especially processed varieties high in sodium, can contribute to higher blood pressure levels during pregnancy (7). It is advisable to choose lower-sodium options and moderate the overall intake of sausages to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional for personalised advice.

Sausages can be consumed during pregnancy, but cooking them properly is essential to prevent any harm to the baby. Keeping their consumption occasional and maintaining all precautions allows you to gorge on your favourite food items and have a healthy pregnancy.

Also Read:

Egg while Pregnant
Fish during Pregnancy
Eating Chicken when Pregnancy

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Sources References

1. USDA – Sausages and Food Safety

2. USDA – Cooking Meat? Check the New Recommended Temperatures

3. Foods & Pregnancy – Meat and sausages

4. CDC – Food Poisoning Symptoms

5. Keck Medicine of USC – Acid Reflux

6. Action on Salt – Sausage Survey

7. National Library of Medicine – Sodium Intake During Pregnancy, but Not Other Diet Recommendations Aimed at Preventing Cardiovascular Disease, Is Positively Related to Risk of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

8. National Library of Medicine – High-salt diets during pregnancy affected fetal and offspring renal renin–angiotensin system

9. National Library of Medicine – Fast Food Consumption and Gestational Diabetes Incidence in the SUN Project