Is Corned Beef Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)
Updated July 16, 2026
The Answer
Corned beef requires caution during pregnancy because deli style meat can carry Listeria. Reheat it to 165°F (steaming hot) immediately before eating rather than serving it cold.
The main pregnancy concern is Listeria from cold deli style corned beef, so heat the meat to 165°F just before serving. Many products also contain sodium nitrite; concerns in the available evidence relate to high exposures, so this does not establish that an occasional serving causes harm, but choosing nitrite free options can reduce exposure.
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✓ What's Safe
- • Corned beef that you can reheat to 165°F, or steaming hot, immediately before eating
- • A food thermometer to confirm the center of the meat reaches 165°F
- • Freshly heated servings rather than meat that has cooled after cooking
- • Labels without sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate if you want to reduce exposure to curing agents
- • Properly refrigerated packages that are sealed, undamaged, and within their use by date
- • Clean utensils and preparation surfaces to prevent cooked meat from contacting raw foods
✗ What to Avoid
- • Cold or merely warm deli style corned beef
- • Corned beef that has not reached 165°F throughout before serving
- • Leaving reheated corned beef sitting out before eating
- • Packages that are leaking, damaged, expired, or have been stored improperly
- • Cross contamination from raw meat, unwashed hands, cutting boards, or utensils
- • Frequent reliance on heavily cured options containing sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate when alternatives are available
Most Common Ingredients in Corned Beef Products
We analyzed 43 corned beef products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:
Ingredients to Watch Out For in Corned Beef
These are the most common flagged ingredients across 43 corned beef products we analyzed.
sodium nitrite
CAUTION
Sodium nitrite is a preservative used to cure meats. May cause fetal hypoxia and has been associated with neural tube defects at high exposures.
Found in 31 of 43 products (72%)
and sodium nitrite
CAUTION
And sodium nitrite is a preservative used to cure meats. May cause fetal hypoxia and has been associated with neural tube defects at high exposures.
Found in 3 of 43 products (7%)
sugar and sodium nitrite
CAUTION
Sugar and sodium nitrite is a preservative used to cure meats. May cause fetal hypoxia and has been associated with neural tube defects at high exposures.
Found in 2 of 43 products (5%)
sugar and sodium nitrate
CAUTION
Sugar and sodium nitrate is compounds used as food preservatives and found in water. May impair fetal oxygen availability and are associated with preterm birth at high exposure levels.
Found in 1 of 43 products (2%)
Corned Beef Products We've Analyzed
We graded 43 corned beef products for pregnancy safety. 6 received an A grade.
Pregnancy Safe Corned Beef Products
We found 6 pregnancy safe options. Here are some top picks.
| Grade | Product | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| A | O Donnell'S, Corned Beef Brisket | O Donnell'S |
| A | First Cut Corned Beef Brisket | Boar'S Head |
| A | Flat Cut Corned Beef Brisket | — |
| A | Flat Cut Corned Beef Brisket | Cattlemen'S Ranch |
| A | Uncured Corned Beef | — |
Your Questions Answered
Can you eat corned beef while pregnant?
Yes, but treat deli style corned beef as a caution food because it can carry Listeria. Reheat it to 165°F, or until steaming hot, immediately before eating. Do not rely on appearance alone; a food thermometer provides a clearer check.
Can I eat a corned beef sandwich while pregnant?
You can eat one if the corned beef is reheated to 165°F or steaming hot immediately before the sandwich is assembled. Avoid a sandwich made with cold deli corned beef. Eat it while the meat is still hot rather than allowing it to cool for an extended period.
What meats are not good for pregnancy?
For this category, cold deli meats and cold cuts are the key concern because they can carry Listeria. Corned beef should therefore be reheated to 165°F just before eating. The risk depends on the meat's preparation and handling, not simply its name.
Is canned corned beef safe during pregnancy?
Canned corned beef is not necessarily prepared or handled like refrigerated deli slices, so the category data does not support one rule for every canned product. Follow the package's cooking and storage directions; if it is served as refrigerated deli style meat, apply the 165°F reheating guidance.
Is sodium nitrite in corned beef unsafe during pregnancy?
Sodium nitrite is a curing preservative found in many corned beef products. The available concern involves high exposures and includes reduced fetal oxygen availability and associations with neural tube defects; this does not show that an occasional food serving causes those outcomes. Choosing products without added nitrite or nitrate can reduce exposure.
Does uncured corned beef still need to be heated?
Yes. An “uncured” label does not eliminate the Listeria handling concern for deli style meat. Reheat it to 165°F or steaming hot immediately before eating and use clean utensils and surfaces.
How Do We Score Products for Pregnancy Safety?
We analyze each product's ingredients and category to flag known risks and provide cautionary notices for general category safety concerns.
A - Safe
Excellent choice! All ingredients are considered safe during pregnancy.
What to do: Use with confidence.
B - Likely Safe
Pretty much safe with very minimal risk. Some ingredients may have limited pregnancy studies, but no significant safety concerns have been identified.
What to do: Use with confidence.
C - Limit
Contains ingredients with some pregnancy considerations. Research shows these ingredients may have limited safety data, potential for minor hormonal effects, or require caution based on animal studies.
What to do: Use sparingly and consider safer alternatives when available.
D - Caution
Similar to C grade but contains multiple cautionary ingredients. The combination increases overall concern.
What to do: Try to avoid if that makes you feel better. If you've already used it, no need to panic.
F - Avoid
Contains ingredients with established risks during pregnancy. Research shows these can cause birth defects, developmental harm, or serious maternal complications.
What to do: Do not use during pregnancy. If you've already used it, don't worry - contact your OBGYN if concerned.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/delimeats-7-24/index.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/food safety/foods/pregnant women.html
- https://chemm.hhs.gov/countermeasure_sodium nitrite.htm
- https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/zeb.2012.0746
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1392223/
- https://oehha.ca.gov/sites/default/files/media/downloads/crnr/sodnithid.pdf
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2916857/
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-27345-x
- https://www.americordblood.com/articles/nitrates and pregancy
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/tera.1420180311
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8824361/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3607976/
- https://www.fishersci.ca/shop/products/sodium nitrite-98-thermo scientific-1/p-7024287
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/201444s000lbl.pdf
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10305619/
- https://www.pharmacompass.com/chemistry chemical name/sodium nitrite
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/203923s001lbl.pdf
- https://go.drugbank.com/salts/DBSALT002657
- https://www.myactivehealth.com/hwcontent/content/multum/d07762a1.html
- https://www.buzzrx.com/blog/food and nitrates