Everyone knows that healthy eating when on the run can be tricky. Being pregnant can make it even trickier. Subway is often considered one of the healthier “fast” foods but is it ok to eat when you’re pregnant?
Unfortunately, Subway tends to fall into one of the grey areas when it comes to pregnancy food safety. This means there is currently no Australian guideline that will give you a definitive answer.
What’s the problem with a salad sandwich?
So, you’ve most likely already heard that deli meats are considered a bit of a no go while pregnant, which does exclude a lot of what subway keeps behind their counter.
You’re probably thinking that if you just have salad it should be ok, right? Well, maybe. The current guidelines advise against consuming all pre-cut or pre-packaged salads during pregnancy. It turns out these are actually prime sources for a listeria infection.
Are there some safe options on the menu?
If you find yourself in a situation where you have to eat and there really is nothing else, your best bet is to ask them to toast your sub.
Fresh salad probably isn’t so tasty hot so perhaps opt for a meatball, chicken or bacon and egg option and just get them to whack it on the toaster until “steaming” hot. Listeria is able to be killed by being heated to anything above 70 degrees Celsius.
I’ve eaten Subway by mistake, now what?
Don’t stress. The risk of Listeria is definitely something that’s worth being aware of but it’s also important to remember that it’s also quite rare in Australia. We’re very lucky that our food safety standards are very high. There are usually only around 150 people hospitalised with listeriosis per year in Australia.
If you have eaten subway when pregnant, or another food group that is considered a higher risk, simply monitor yourself. If you start to feel unwell, go to your doctor or nearest emergency centre and let them know what you’ve eaten and they’ll be able to assess you.
In the meantime, if you’re preferring to err on the side of caution, you’re probably best just avoiding Subway altogether. It’s only nine months after all and then you’ll be able to go back to eating all the subs you want!
Read next …
- Q&A Can I eat a McFlurry when pregnant?
- Q&A: Can I eat cooked soft cheese when pregnant?
- Q&A: Can you eat prawns while pregnant?
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