Yes, pizza is considered safe to eat during pregnancy, as long as it is made using safe toppings and served hot and fresh. In fact, it can even be a comforting option for those common pregnancy cravings with the right mix of carbohydrates, protein, and flavor.
So let’s explore ways in which you can fulfil your pregnancy cravings, eating pizza while also being careful about your health.
Key Safety Precautions To Keep In Mind:
- Cheese: When buying pizza from the outside, you should be mindful of the cheese being used. While commercial cheeses such as mozzarella are pasteurised and safe, you should avoid unpasteurised soft cheeses or mould-ripened varieties such as Brie, Camembert, or Danish Blue unless they are cooked until steaming hot to eliminate the risk of Listeria infection.1
- Meats: Cured meats (e.g., pepperoni, salami, prosciutto) may contain parasites that cause Toxoplasmosis. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the meats are cooked until they achieve an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). 2
- Vegetables: Make sure that all vegetables are washed before using them as a topping to ensure that they are free of soil-dwelling microbes.
Health & Nutrition Of Pizza
Although pizza is safe for pregnant women, it usually has a high level of sodium, saturated fat, and refined flour. Healthcare providers recommend that pregnant women be aware of their sodium intake due to the risk of developing gestational diabetes or elevated blood pressure at this time. 3
To improve the nutritional value of the pizza, pregnant women can also try selecting either a thin or a whole wheat crust pizza. And they can also try to maximize the number of vegetables being used as pizza toppings.
