Canned food - is it safe to eat?

[annefwee]

Listeria infection may result it birth defect or miscarriage. I understand it is safe to eat sardine or tuna during pregnancy, but what about those canned one? Are they generally hygienic enough to be eaten? Will they be Listeria-free?

[annefwee]

Thanks everyone for your comment, I feel better now :@)

[sweetangel7]

Yes, Kim is right...fish is not typically a listeria laden food UNLESS you let it sit out at room temp for some time (20 min +).  We were just posting about the limiting of fish for mercury reasons which are though to cause birth defects.

You are fine =)

[Kim1989]

this issue with fish was not listeria....it was murcery

[annefwee]

I just had a can of sardine with salad without heating it up (only saw saw your post after), I hope it's alright :(

[Mumita]

canned lunch meat can contain listeria if not heated, that's why in the summer they usually recall one brand of canned chili or lunch meat, because people eat it without heating it up and they end up getting sick from it.

[Griggsy]

I've never heard of the lunch meat being bad for baby. New to me. Thanks for the warning.

[Mumita]

you can eat canned stuffed but make sure you heat it up a little.  Stay away from canned meat spreads and lunch meat.  If you have to eat it, try warming it up.
As far as the tuna.  I wouldn't be too concerned eating canned light tuna once or twice a week, try to limit Albacore to once a week at most.  And tuna steaks I'd try to limit that to once a week too.

[sweetangel7]

From what I understand, Listeria is a bacteria that is so common that most healthy adults have had listeriosis at some time in their life...a healthy adult immune system can take it BUT a baby can't.  Listeria is more common in deli meats, soft cheeses, soft serve ice cream, unpasturized milk products...Tuna is not usually a known culprit as long as it is prepared and eaten or refrigerated immediately...if left at room temp, it could start to grow bacteria etc.

Tuna is safe to eat in moderation(no more than 12 oz of low mercury fish such as canned light tuna should be consumed weekly. "Highest" mercury fish should be avoided and "high" mercury fish such as canned albacore should be kept to only three 6-oz servings per month) , not sure about sardines though.