When it comes to eating meat during pregnancy, the key thing is to make sure that it’s always thoroughly cooked with no trace of pink or blood. Cooking meat thoroughly ensures that any harmful bugs – including those that cause toxoplasmosis – are killed off before you eat it.
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite found in raw and undercooked meat, among other things. It can cause serious complications, particularly early in pregnancy, which can lead to miscarriage.
After preparing raw meat, you should always wash your hands, surfaces and utensils thoroughly. Harmful bacteria can spread easily to anything it touches, including worktops, chopping boards and knives. Be particularly mindful to keep raw meat away from other ingredients, especially ‘ready to eat’ foods like bread, salad or fruit – these won’t be cooked before you eat them so any harmful bacteria they pick up won’t be killed.
