Muka · Pregnancy guide
Can I Eat Salami While Pregnant?
Updated June 2026 · based on NHS and official food-safety guidance
Salami is a cold cured meat that is fermented and dried rather than cooked, so it can carry the toxoplasmosis parasite (the main NHS concern) and Listeria bacteria (the main US concern), both rare but linked to miscarriage and serious illness in pregnancy. The NHS says cold cured meats like salami are fine if cooked thoroughly until steaming hot, such as on a hot pizza, and that freezing them at home for four days first reduces the parasite risk. In the US, the CDC, FDA and ACOG advise heating deli and luncheon meats to 165F (74C) or until steaming hot before eating, because pregnant people are about 10 times more likely to get a Listeria infection.
Salami is one of the trickiest foods to scan in pregnancy, because the advice is not a flat no, it is a "depends how it is served." The reassuring part is that salami never has to be completely off the menu. Cooking it until piping hot makes it safe, and the NHS even offers a freeze-it-first option to lower the parasite risk from cold salami. Below you will find exactly what the NHS, CDC, FDA and ACOG say, broken down by how the salami is served, so you can check your plate and decide with confidence. For a specific product, the Muka app gives you a verdict in 3 seconds by barcode scan or photo.
Which kinds of salami are safe in pregnancy?
| How it is served | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Salami cooked until steaming hot (e.g. baked on a pizza) | Safe | Heating salami all the way through until it is steaming hot kills both the toxoplasmosis parasite and Listeria. The NHS says cured meats are safe cooked thoroughly, and the CDC, FDA and ACOG say heat them to 165F (74C) or until steaming hot. |
| Cold salami frozen at home for 4 days first (UK advice) | In moderation | The NHS says freezing cold cured or fermented meat for four days at home before eating it kills most parasites and makes it safer. This lowers the toxoplasmosis risk, but freezing does not reliably kill Listeria, the main US concern, so cooking until steaming is safer still. |
| Cold salami straight from the pack (uncooked, not frozen) | Avoid | Uncooked, cold salami can carry toxoplasmosis parasites (NHS) and Listeria (CDC, FDA). Both are rare but dangerous in pregnancy, so cold salami is best avoided unless you cook it until steaming hot, or freeze it for four days first. |
| Deli salami sliced fresh at the counter (US) | Avoid | The CDC links deli-counter meats, including salami sliced at the deli, to Listeria outbreaks because slicers and surfaces can spread the bacteria. US guidance is to avoid these unless heated to 165F or until steaming hot just before eating. |
| Salami on a charcuterie or antipasti board (room temperature) | Avoid | Cured meat served cold at room temperature is uncooked and can carry Listeria and toxoplasmosis, and Listeria can even grow in the fridge. Skip cold board salami, or ask for a portion you can cook until steaming hot. |
| Salami baked into a quiche, calzone or pasta bake (piping hot) | Safe | If the dish comes out of the oven piping hot all the way through, the salami inside has been cooked, which makes it safe under both NHS and US guidance. Make sure the centre is steaming, not just warm. |
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Download Muka on the App StoreFrequently asked questions
Why is salami not recommended cold in pregnancy?
Salami is cured and dried rather than cooked, so it can carry the toxoplasmosis parasite, which the NHS flags, and Listeria bacteria, which the CDC and FDA flag. Both infections are rare but pregnant people are far more vulnerable, with the CDC noting around a tenfold higher risk of Listeria, and both are linked to miscarriage.
Is salami on a cooked pizza safe while pregnant?
Yes. When salami is baked on a pizza until it is steaming hot all the way through, the heat kills toxoplasmosis parasites and Listeria, which makes it safe. The NHS specifically gives hot pizza as an example, and the CDC, FDA and ACOG agree that heating to 165F or until steaming hot is the key step.
Can I eat cold salami if I freeze it first?
The NHS in the UK says freezing cold cured or fermented meat at home for four days before eating it kills most parasites and makes it safer, which lowers the toxoplasmosis risk. However, freezing does not reliably kill Listeria, the main US concern, so the safest option overall is still to cook salami until steaming hot.
Does UK and US advice on salami differ?
Slightly. The NHS focuses on toxoplasmosis from cured meats and says cold salami is fine if it is cooked thoroughly, with freezing for four days first as a way to lower the parasite risk. US bodies (CDC, FDA, ACOG) focus on Listeria and advise heating deli and luncheon meats to 165F or until steaming hot. Both agree cooked, piping-hot salami is safe.
I ate cold salami before I knew, should I worry?
Try not to panic. Infection from a small amount of cold salami is rare and most people have no problems at all. Watch for symptoms like fever, aches, chills or flu-like illness over the next few weeks, and contact your midwife or doctor if you feel unwell or are worried.
Sources
- NHS — Foods to avoid in pregnancy: nhs.uk
See also: how Muka works, the pregnancy food scanner that answers “can I eat this while pregnant?”.