Is Salami / pepperoni / chorizo (cured meats) safe during pregnancy?
Meat & poultry
Cook until steaming hot
The NHS says cold cured meats such as salami should be cooked until steaming hot; the US CDC says the same for fermented or dry sausages (165°F).[1,2]
What official sources say
NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy
- Meat and poultry › Foods to be careful with: Cold cured meats, such as salami, pepperoni, chorizo and prosciutto, need care in pregnancy: cook them until steaming hot before eating.[1]
- Eating raw, undercooked or cured meat carries a small risk of toxoplasmosis, an infection that can cause miscarriage.[1]
Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)
| Energy | 407 kcal |
| Protein | 22.58 g |
| Fibre | 0 g |
| Iron | 1.3 mg |
| Calcium | 13 mg |
| Folate (DFE) | 2 µg |
| Folate, total | 2 µg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 0 µg |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.8 µg |
| DHA (omega-3) | 0 g |
| EPA (omega-3) | 0 g |
| Sodium | 2260 mg |
USDA FoodData Central: Salami, dry or hard, pork (FDC ID 172938), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.
Sources
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.
- US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women · cdc.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
Sources checked 26 September 2026.
Quotes are checked word for word against each source page, and paraphrases against the original text. Official bodies are named as sources only: none of them reviewed or endorses this page.
Educational information, not medical advice. Your own doctor or midwife may advise differently for you — follow their advice.