Salami and Prosciutto During Pregnancy: Cold, Cooked, and Charcuterie

The short answer: Salami and prosciutto are fine during pregnancy when they are heated to 165°F or until steaming hot. CDC's pregnancy food-safety chart lists unheated deli meat, cold cuts, and fermented or dry sausages as riskier choices, and the same foods heated to 165°F or until steaming hot as safer choices. Cold slices on a sandwich or charcuterie board are the unheated version.

Can I eat salami while pregnant?

Yes, if it is heated first. Salami is a fermented or dry sausage, the category CDC names on its riskier list when unheated. The CDC explains that Listeria can grow in refrigerated foods and is killed by heating, and its Listeria prevention page lists pregnant women among the groups at higher risk. Salami baked on a pizza, crisped in a pan, or cooked into a pasta sauce until steaming hot fits the safer column.

Is prosciutto safe during pregnancy?

CDC's chart does not name prosciutto. It is a cured ham that is usually sliced thin and eaten cold, like other cold cuts, so the same rule applies: heat it to 165°F or until steaming hot. Prosciutto is cured rather than cooked, and the FDA notes that the Toxoplasma parasite can be found in raw or undercooked pork. Prosciutto crisped in the oven, baked on a pizza, or cooked into a dish is the safer way to eat it. Parma ham is a type of prosciutto and follows the same rule.

Can you eat fried or cooked salami while pregnant?

Yes. Fried salami, salami on a hot pizza, and salami cooked in a casserole all fit CDC's safer choice once the meat is steaming hot throughout. Check that the slices are hot, not just warm, and eat them soon after cooking.

What about charcuterie boards and salami sandwiches?

A cold charcuterie board and a cold salami or Italian sub are unheated, which puts them in CDC's riskier column. If you want a sandwich, heat it until the meat is steaming hot, for example a toasted or pressed sandwich. Cheese on the board needs its own check; see our soft cheese guide. Our deli meat guide covers turkey, ham, and other cold cuts, and the pepperoni guide covers pizza and snack sticks.

Is sausage different from salami?

It depends on the type. Dry or fermented sausages, such as salami and pepperoni, follow CDC's heat-to-165°F rule. Fresh raw sausages are ground meat: CDC says to cook ground meats such as beef and pork to 160°F, and ground chicken and turkey to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer.

What nutrients does salami provide?

Mostly protein, fat, and calories. PregNut's historical USDA-based data lists dry or hard salami at 21.07 g protein and 378 calories per 100 g. Our iron foods guide lists other protein foods that also add iron.

Common questions

What if I ate cold salami or prosciutto while pregnant?

Eating it once does not mean you have an infection. Tell your prenatal care team what you ate and when. 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 "uncured" or "nitrate-free" salami change the advice?

No. CDC's guidance is about fermented or dry sausages and cold cuts in general, and those label terms do not tell you the product was heated before you eat it.

Does it matter which trimester I am in?

CDC's chart does not set different rules by trimester. The heat-it-first advice applies throughout pregnancy.

Related: hot dogs, pâté and meat spreads, and premade deli salads.

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.