Is Turkey Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)
Updated July 13, 2026
The Answer
Yes, turkey can be eaten during pregnancy when it is cooked to a safe internal temperature. Turkey carries moderate food safety risk, so poultry should reach 165°F.
The main pregnancy consideration is proper cooking: turkey should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Some processed options also contain sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite, preservatives rated CAUTION in the ingredient based review, so compare labels if you want to avoid them.
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Scan any barcode or search by name and get a clear pregnancy safety answer in seconds
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Track your pregnancy and check what’s safe
✓ What's Safe
- • Turkey cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F
- • A food thermometer to check the thickest part before eating
- • Plain, minimally processed turkey with a short ingredient list
- • Labels without sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite
- • Freshly prepared turkey served fully cooked
- • Higher graded options when comparing packaged turkey
✗ What to Avoid
- • Raw or undercooked turkey
- • Turkey that has not been verified at 165°F
- • Processed turkey containing sodium nitrate
- • Cured turkey containing sodium nitrite
- • Choosing packaged turkey without checking its ingredient list
- • Assuming turkey is fully cooked based only on its color or appearance
Most Common Ingredients in Turkey Products
We analyzed 14 turkey products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:
Ingredients to Watch Out For in Turkey
These are the most common flagged ingredients across 14 turkey 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 1 of 14 products (7%)
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 1 of 14 products (7%)
Turkey Products We've Analyzed
We graded 14 turkey products for pregnancy safety. 10 received an A grade.
Pregnancy Safe Turkey Products
We found 10 pregnancy safe options. Here are some top picks.
| Grade | Product | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| A | All Natural Turkey Breast | — |
| A | Ready To Roast Everyday Boneless Skinless Turkey | Butterball |
| A | Butterball, Everyday Fresh Turkey Breast Tenders | — |
| A | Butterball, Fresh Turkey Breast Filets | — |
| A | Butterball, Turkey Breast Filets | — |
Your Questions Answered
Is it okay to eat turkey while pregnant?
Yes, turkey can be eaten during pregnancy when it is properly cooked. Poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a food thermometer rather than relying only on appearance.
Can I eat Thanksgiving turkey while pregnant?
Yes, as long as the turkey reaches 165°F before it is served. Check the thickest part with a food thermometer to confirm it is fully cooked. Avoid eating portions that are raw or undercooked.
Is deli turkey the same as freshly cooked turkey during pregnancy?
Not necessarily, because processed turkey may contain additional preservatives and other ingredients. Check the label for sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite, both rated CAUTION in this category. A plain, fully cooked option with a shorter ingredient list may simplify your choice.
What internal temperature should turkey reach during pregnancy?
Turkey should reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F. Measure the temperature in the thickest portion with a food thermometer. Do not judge doneness by color alone.
Are sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite in turkey a concern?
Both preservatives are rated CAUTION in this category. The supplied concerns involve high exposures and do not establish the risk of an occasional serving, but checking labels can help you compare processed options. Proper cooking remains a separate food safety requirement.
How do turkey products compare by grade?
We reviewed 14 turkey products: 10 received an A, two received a B+, and two received a C+. This shows that many higher graded choices are available. Still, verify safe cooking and review the ingredient label for each option.
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.foodsafety.gov/food safety charts/safe minimum internal temperatures
- 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
- https://jfmo.cchs.ua.edu/files/2013/09/Drugs_Pregnancy.pdf