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Can Pasteurized Eggs Be Consumed During Pregnancy?

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Posted on Fri, 10 Apr 2015
Question: I am pregnant and craving Caesar salad! The restauarant I love makes their own with pasteurized eggs. Is this safe or should I avoid it?
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Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
pasteurised eggs can be safely consumed in pregnancy

Detailed Answer:
hello,
thanks for contacting hcm,

Pregnancy is a state where food cravings are common. If you have a craving for raw pasteurised eggs based dressing in the caesar salad, then you can go ahead and have it safely. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in-shell pasteurized eggs may be used safely without cooking. For example, they may safely be consumed raw (as in raw cookie dough or in preparing salad dressing) or in undercooked forms (such as a sunny-side up egg). The chances for using eggs raw is only the concern for contracting a salmonella infection and pasteurisation prevents that.
There is no restriction of not eating eggs or salad in pregnancy infact once the safety of the food is established as in this case with pasteurisation , you may go ahead and enjoy your meal without any fear of cross contamination or gastroenteritis infection.

Wishing you good health,
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sameer Kumar

OB and GYN Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 1782 Questions

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Can Pasteurized Eggs Be Consumed During Pregnancy?

Brief Answer: pasteurised eggs can be safely consumed in pregnancy Detailed Answer: hello, thanks for contacting hcm, Pregnancy is a state where food cravings are common. If you have a craving for raw pasteurised eggs based dressing in the caesar salad, then you can go ahead and have it safely. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in-shell pasteurized eggs may be used safely without cooking. For example, they may safely be consumed raw (as in raw cookie dough or in preparing salad dressing) or in undercooked forms (such as a sunny-side up egg). The chances for using eggs raw is only the concern for contracting a salmonella infection and pasteurisation prevents that. There is no restriction of not eating eggs or salad in pregnancy infact once the safety of the food is established as in this case with pasteurisation , you may go ahead and enjoy your meal without any fear of cross contamination or gastroenteritis infection. Wishing you good health, Regards