Pepperoni During Pregnancy: Pizza, Cold Slices, and Snack Sticks
CDC advises heating dry sausages like pepperoni to 165°F or steaming hot in pregnancy. What that means for pizza, leftovers, and snack sticks.
The short answer: Pepperoni is fine during pregnancy when it is heated to 165°F or until steaming hot, as on a pizza served hot from the oven. The CDC lists unheated fermented or dry sausages, the category pepperoni falls into, as a riskier choice, and heated ones as the safer choice.
Can you eat pepperoni pizza while pregnant?
Yes, when the pizza is served steaming hot. Pepperoni baked on top of a pizza is heated with it; choose a pizza that comes out of the oven hot rather than one that has been sitting at room temperature. Toppings added cold after baking, such as raw sprouts or crumbled queso fresco, have not been heated with the pizza.
Is cold pepperoni or leftover pizza OK?
Cold pepperoni straight from the package is in the CDC's riskier column. The CDC explains that Listeria can grow in food kept in the refrigerator and is killed by heating. Reheat leftover pepperoni pizza until it is steaming hot throughout, and follow our leftovers guide for how long to keep it.
Is turkey or uncured pepperoni different?
No. The CDC's guidance is about fermented or dry sausages in general, so turkey pepperoni and products labeled "uncured" follow the same heat-it-first rule. Those label terms do not tell you the product has been heated before you eat it.
Can you eat pepperoni sticks or charcuterie while pregnant?
Snack sticks, a cold charcuterie board, and salami slices are eaten unheated, which puts them in the CDC's riskier column. If you want them, heat them until steaming hot, for example in a cooked dish. Our deli meat guide covers salami, cold cuts, and sandwiches.
What nutrients does pepperoni provide?
Mostly protein, fat, and calories. PregNut's historical USDA-based data lists sliced pepperoni at 19.25 g protein and 504 calories per 100 g, and pepperoni pizza at 11.74 g protein and 153 mg calcium per 100 g.
Common questions
What if I ate cold pepperoni while pregnant?
Tell your prenatal care team what you ate and when. For Listeria, the CDC says pregnant women should call the doctor right away if they have a fever and feel more tired and achy than usual.
Does microwaving pepperoni count?
Yes, if it gets steaming hot. Check that the slices are hot, not just warm, before eating.
Related: salami and prosciutto.
Sources: CDC safer food choices for pregnant women, CDC how Listeria spreads, CDC preventing Listeria, FDA ready-to-eat foods for moms-to-be, and CDC food-poisoning symptoms. This guide is educational and does not replace prenatal care.