Can You Eat Pepperoni While Pregnant?
Yes when it's cooked — pepperoni on a hot pizza is fine; cold pepperoni is best heated first.
The full answer
Pepperoni is a cured, fermented meat. Cured meats that haven't been cooked can occasionally carry listeria or toxoplasma, which is why the advice for cold cured meats (pepperoni, salami, chorizo, prosciutto) is to heat them until steaming. The good news: pepperoni baked on a pizza or cooked into a dish is heated well past that threshold, so it's fine. The main caveat is that it's very high in salt and saturated fat, so keep portions modest. If you're eating it cold — say off a charcuterie board — heat it through first or skip it.
How to eat pepperoni safely
- On a hot, fully-cooked pizza or baked dish: fine
- Cold pepperoni/salami: heat until steaming before eating
- Keep portions small — high in salt and saturated fat
When to avoid: Avoid cold, uncooked cured meats straight from the packet or a charcuterie board unless heated.
Pepperoni by trimester
| Stage | What changes |
|---|---|
| First trimester | Pepperoni is a cured meat, so it falls under the same ready-to-eat caution — the advice is to have it cooked rather than straight from the packet. |
| Second trimester | Unchanged. In practice this is easy: pepperoni on a properly hot pizza has been cooked, which is how most people eat it anyway. |
| Third trimester | Same guidance. Cold pepperoni on a charcuterie board is the version to skip. |
Common questions about pepperoni in pregnancy
Can I eat pepperoni pizza while pregnant?
Yes — pepperoni baked on a hot pizza has been cooked thoroughly, which addresses the concern. It's cold, uncooked cured meat straight from the packet that guidance advises against.
Why is cured meat treated differently from cooked meat?
Curing preserves meat without cooking it, so it can carry listeria and, depending on the product, toxoplasma. Heat resolves both, which is why 'cook it' is the recurring advice rather than 'avoid it'.
Is turkey pepperoni any different?
Not for this purpose — the concern is that it's a cured ready-to-eat meat, regardless of which animal it came from. Same advice: cook it.
The general rules on listeria, mercury, caffeine and alcohol are in our pregnancy safety guide, and you can track your pregnancy with the How Far Along Am I? calculator and the week-by-week guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you eat pepperoni while pregnant?
- Yes when it's cooked — pepperoni on a hot pizza is fine; cold pepperoni is best heated first. Pepperoni is a cured, fermented meat. Cured meats that haven't been cooked can occasionally carry listeria or toxoplasma, which is why the advice for cold cured meats (pepperoni, salami, chorizo, prosciutto) is to heat them until steaming. The good news: pepperoni baked on a pizza or cooked into a dish is heated well past that threshold, so it's fine. The main caveat is that it's very high in salt and saturated fat, so keep portions modest. If you're eating it cold — say off a charcuterie board — heat it through first or skip it.
- Why is pepperoni something to be careful with in pregnancy?
- Pepperoni is a cured, fermented meat. Cured meats that haven't been cooked can occasionally carry listeria or toxoplasma, which is why the advice for cold cured meats (pepperoni, salami, chorizo, prosciutto) is to heat them until steaming. The good news: pepperoni baked on a pizza or cooked into a dish is heated well past that threshold, so it's fine. The main caveat is that it's very high in salt and saturated fat, so keep portions modest. If you're eating it cold — say off a charcuterie board — heat it through first or skip it.
- When should I avoid pepperoni during pregnancy?
- Avoid cold, uncooked cured meats straight from the packet or a charcuterie board unless heated.
Sources
This answer was checked against the following public guidance. Advice can differ between countries; your midwife, doctor or pharmacist can apply it to you.