Is Prosciutto Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)
Updated April 13, 2026
The Answer
With caution. Prosciutto is a cured deli meat that can carry Listeria, so it should be heated to 165°F (steaming hot) before eating during pregnancy. Cold prosciutto straight from the package is not recommended.
Prosciutto is a dry cured ham that is not cooked during production, which means it may harbor Listeria monocytogenes a bacteria particularly dangerous during pregnancy. Listeria can cross the placenta and cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious infection in newborns. The CDC specifically advises pregnant women to heat deli meats until steaming hot to kill any potential bacteria.
Pregnancy Safe is 100% independent and research driven. No companies pay to promote or sponsor products.
✓ What's Safe
- • Prosciutto cooked until steaming hot (165°F internal temperature)
- • Prosciutto crisped on pizza, in baked pasta dishes, or pan fried until edges curl
- • Freshly opened packages from reputable brands stored properly
- • Products with clear expiration dates and intact packaging
- • Prosciutto wrapped dishes where the meat is fully cooked through
✗ What to Avoid
- • Cold prosciutto straight from the deli counter or package
- • Prosciutto on room temperature charcuterie boards
- • Unheated prosciutto on salads, sandwiches, or appetizers
- • Prosciutto from buffets or displays where temperature is uncertain
- • Products past their expiration date or with damaged packaging
- • Cross contaminated prosciutto that touched raw meats or unwashed surfaces
Most Common Ingredients in Prosciutto Products
We analyzed 52 prosciutto products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:
Ingredients to Watch Out For in Prosciutto
These are the most common flagged ingredients across 52 prosciutto products we analyzed.
sodium nitrate
CAUTION
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 4 of 52 products (8%)
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 3 of 52 products (6%)
white wine
AVOID
White wine is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 1 of 52 products (2%)
wine
CAUTION
Wine is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 1 of 52 products (2%)
Prosciutto Products We've Analyzed
We graded 52 prosciutto products for pregnancy safety. 48 received an A grade.
Pregnancy Safe Prosciutto Products
We found 48 pregnancy safe options. Here are some top picks.
| Grade | Product | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| A | Fiorucci, Original Italian Recipe Prosciutto | — |
| A | Prosciutto | — |
| A | Naturalissima, Prosciutto | — |
| A | Prosciutto | Fiorucci |
| A | Citterio, Prosciutto Cubetti | — |
Your Questions Answered
Can pregnant women eat prosciutto?
Pregnant women can eat prosciutto if it's heated to 165°F (steaming hot) before eating. This temperature kills Listeria bacteria that may be present in cured meats. Cold prosciutto straight from the package is not recommended during pregnancy because the curing process alone doesn't eliminate all harmful bacteria. When prosciutto is cooked on pizza, crisped in a pan, or baked in dishes until steaming, it becomes safe to enjoy.
What are the risks of prosciutto during pregnancy?
The main risk of eating unheated prosciutto during pregnancy is Listeria infection (listeriosis). Pregnant women are about 10 times more likely to get listeriosis than the general population. This infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life threatening infection in newborns. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, and flu like illness, but sometimes there are no symptoms at all while the baby is affected.
Is cooked prosciutto safe during pregnancy?
Yes, cooked prosciutto is safe during pregnancy when heated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot. This means prosciutto on a freshly baked pizza, crisped in a hot pan, or baked into pasta dishes is considered safe. The key is ensuring the meat reaches a high enough temperature throughout not just warmed but actually hot and steaming. Let it cool slightly before eating, but don't let it sit at room temperature.
What happens if I accidentally ate cold prosciutto while pregnant?
If you accidentally ate cold prosciutto while pregnant, don't panic the risk of Listeria infection from any single serving is relatively low. However, monitor yourself for symptoms over the next 2-4 weeks, including fever, muscle aches, nausea, or diarrhea. Contact your healthcare provider if you develop any symptoms or have concerns. Most exposures don't result in infection, but it's important to be aware and seek care if needed.
Can I eat prosciutto on pizza while pregnant?
Yes, prosciutto on pizza is generally safe during pregnancy as long as the pizza is freshly baked and the prosciutto was added before or during baking so it reaches a high temperature. If prosciutto is added as a cold topping after the pizza comes out of the oven, it hasn't been heated enough to kill potential bacteria. Ask restaurants whether the prosciutto is baked on the pizza or added afterward, and request it be cooked if needed.
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.
People Also Checked
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/delimeats-7-24/index.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/food safety/foods/pregnant women.html
- https://med.stanford.edu/news/all news/2021/05/too much nitrate in drinking water linked to preterm birth.html
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07853890.2025.2521440
- https://oehha.ca.gov/sites/default/files/media/downloads/crnr/sodnithid.pdf
- https://www.americordblood.com/articles/nitrates and pregancy
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28090634/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8824361/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10504112/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40624890/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3607976/
- https://archive.cdc.gov/www_atsdr_cdc_gov/csem/nitrate nitrite/who_risk.html
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10305619/
- https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/EHP8205
- https://www.acog.org/news/news releases/2021/06/acog updated guidance reducing patients exposure to environmental toxins before and during pregnancy
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1438463925001944
- https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical guidance/clinical consensus/articles/2023/08/urinary tract infections in pregnant individuals
- https://lamaze.org/Giving Birth with Confidence/GBWC Post/food additives to avoid in pregnancy and when feeding children
- https://chemm.hhs.gov/pregnancycategories.htm
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-27345-x
