When youre pregnant, everything that goes into your mouth gets shared with your growing baby. Some foods and even some types of food poisoning might not hurt you, but they could hurt your child.
If you want to stay healthy, don’t eat anything that has been out of the fridge for more than two hours (or more than one hour if it’s hot outside).
Be sure to limit caffeine to 200 mg a day (one 12-ounce cup of coffee). And, as you probably know, forget alcohol while your baby is growing inside you.
Beef tartare, a dish made of raw, finely chopped beef, is a delicacy enjoyed by many. However, when you’re expecting, you may wonder – can you eat beef tartare during pregnancy?
The clear answer is no. Consuming raw or undercooked meats like beef tartare is not recommended when pregnant due to food safety concerns
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about eating beef tartare during pregnancy, including:
What is Beef Tartare?
Beef tartare is a French appetizer made from high-quality raw beef that is hand-chopped or finely minced. It is typically served chilled, often molded into a mound shape with a raw egg yolk placed on top.
Common ingredients in beef tartare include:
- Finely diced raw lean beef such as tenderloin or sirloin
- Onions
- Capers
- Raw egg yolk
- Worcestershire sauce
- Mustard
- Parsley
- Pepper
Part of the appeal of beef tartare is its soft, silky texture from the use of raw meat. However, this also introduces safety concerns during pregnancy.
Risks of Consuming Raw Meat While Pregnant
Raw and undercooked meats may contain harmful bacteria, parasites, and toxins that can cause foodborne illness. When pregnant, your immune system is weakened, putting you and baby at greater risk of infection.
Potential foodborne illnesses from raw meat include:
-
Salmonella – causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever
-
E. Coli – leads to illness or kidney problems
-
Toxoplasma gondii – parasite causing flu-like symptoms
-
Listeria – leads to miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn death
For these reasons, healthcare providers recommend cooking beef to a safe minimum internal temperature of 145°F/63°C and avoiding risky foods like beef tartare during pregnancy.
Consequences of Foodborne Illness While Pregnant
Potential consequences of foodborne illness for pregnant women include:
- Vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration
- Fatigue, fever, muscle aches
- Hospitalization in severe cases
- Long-term health effects
For the developing baby, risks include:
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, or death
- Preterm delivery or low birth weight
- Birth defects like blindness, seizures, or disability
While rare, these severe outcomes underscore why avoiding raw meats is critical during pregnancy.
Preparation and Serving of Beef Tartare
To understand the risks, it helps to know how beef tartare is prepared:
- Uses raw, lean cuts of beef
- Meat is chopped into tiny pieces by hand
- Mixed with raw egg yolk, onions, capers, seasonings
- Formed into a mound or patty
- Served chilled right away, often with toast
Since beef tartare is entirely raw with no cooking, risks of bacteria are difficult to control. The raw egg yolk also poses a salmonella threat.
The Debate Around Beef Tartare in Pregnancy
Some women argue that beef tartare frozen before serving or prepared properly carries low risk. However, most experts maintain that:
- Freezing reduces but does not eliminate bacteria
- Parasites can survive freezing temperatures
- Preparation mistakes still occur
- The consequences outweigh the small reward
Healthcare providers typically recommend avoiding all raw meats until after pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Safer Alternatives to Satisfy Cravings
Pregnant women can satisfy beef tartare cravings through lower-risk alternatives like:
- Preparing a cooked version using finely chopped beef
- Using plant-based substitutes like mushrooms or beets
- Enjoying similar flavors and textures in cooked dishes
- Focusing on a balanced diet overall
Discussion with your doctor can help address persistent beef tartare cravings safely.
Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illness During Pregnancy
General food safety tips include:
- Thoroughly cooking meats, poultry, eggs and seafood
- Avoiding raw sprouts, unpasteurized products
- Washing all produce
- Practicing safe food handling and storage
- Reheating leftovers to 165°F
- Choosing pasteurized items
Making informed choices empowers you to stay healthy throughout pregnancy and protect your developing baby.
While tempting, beef tartare should be avoided during pregnancy because of potential foodborne illness risks. Focus on safe, nourishing meals to support you and your baby-to-be. Discuss any diet concerns or cravings with your doctor to make healthy choices.
More on Health & Pregnancy
Can children have steak tartare?
FAQ
Is beef tartare not cooked?
Does beef tartare have raw egg?
Can you have rare beef when pregnant?
Can you handle raw meat when pregnant?
Should you eat steak tartare during pregnancy?
Steak Tartare – this is raw, finely diced meat so should be avoided in pregnancy as it’s not cooked at all. You might be reading this article because you have already eaten raw, pink, bloody or undercooked steak by accident, not realizing it’s something to avoid in pregnancy. The first step is don’t panic.
Is it safe to consume beer and cheese during pregnancy?
The consumption of beer or any alcoholic beverage is strongly discouraged during pregnancy because of its potent teratogenic effect. Its effects are on the development of the neural tube that could generate different degrees of neurological damage. Cheese consumption is safe during pregnancy.
Can pregnant women eat red meat?
All that said, it’s a good idea to eat red meat when pregnant due to the amount of iron it contains. But it must be well-done. You might like your steak rare, even bloody, but you will have to forgo it and try the tougher stuff for nine months.
Can I eat deli meat if I’m Pregnant?
Take care with deli meats such as salami, chorizo and Parma ham. These are often cured and fermented rather than cooked, so they carry a risk of listeriosis and toxoplasmosis. If you want to eat them, make sure they’re pre-cooked or cook them yourself at home. Pre-packed meats, such as ham and corned beef, are safe to eat when you’re pregnant.