Is it okay to eat spam when pregnant?

Miso spam musubi, spam fried rice – there’s a lot of ways to enjoy the Hawaiian deli classic spammed luncheon meat. If you’re expecting, should you lay off the lunch meat even if it means passing on one of Hawaii’s favorite comfort foods?

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Doctors say no worries, as long as you’re eating a variety of foods and not just a lot of spam musubi. But still, expectant mothers are discouraged from eating all refrigerated mean spreads, not just spam.

But first, some quick definitions: “Refrigerated mean spreads” is the term that is made up to collectively refer to bologna, salami, and other sliced meats that usually come in plastic packages on grocery store shelves. “Canned meat” refers to corned beef or canned ham found with canned foods like stews and veggies.

“There’s no evidence that shows hot dogs, bologna, and spam cause more problems than other meats,” says Dr. Gary Motyka, acting director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. “The amount of nitrates is so small compared to what naturally occurs in vegetables like spinach and celery. It hasn’t been shown that people who eat more nitrates are at increased risk.”

It’s the cold storage, not the ingredients themselves, that causes concern during pregnancy. So if you’re craving hot off-the-grill spam musubi or grilled teriyaki bologna sandwiches, go ahead and take a bite.

But don’t overdo it. If you’re pregnant, it’s best to eat foods that are cooked fresh daily. The same theory goes for meat products – the fresher the better.

In summary, the bottom line is that you should eat a variety of foods when pregnant, not just one or two favorites.

Ingredients like salt and nitrates in cold cuts are at the heart of concerns about processed meats. But they’re not necessarily more harmful than other spices people regularly consume in their diet.

ncG1vNJzZmijqaG8r7zOsJylpF6YvK57yKxkoqxdpLiixYytpmadkal6tLzApmSwoJWjerG%2BxKClmqakZA%3D%3D