A study by the Agrifood Technology Center (Cicap), has concluded that the consumption of ham is safe among pregnant women as long as it has more than 18 months of cure (the Iberian must have at least 24 months).
Until a few years ago the serrano ham was put in the same bag as the rest of sausages as food prohibited during pregnancy because of the possibility of causing congenital toxoplasmosis, a disease that can cause serious damage and even the death of the fetus. However, there are already several studies that suggest that the healing process would eliminate the parasite. Yes, If pregnant women eat ham, let it be good.
Ham and pregnancy
Serrano ham is one of the foods that many women miss most during pregnancy. In fact, ham sandwiches "sneak" into maternity homes as the first postpartum meal of many moms.
The reason that some pregnant women were banned is that this food could be contaminated with Toxoplasma Gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. If the woman has already had contact with the parasite before pregnancy there is no problem because they have developed antibodies that will protect the fetus. However, women who have not had contact with the disease are advised to avoid sausages because they are considered raw meat.
The Iberian ham, the exception
However, there are already many studies that suggest that eating ham of certain characteristics could be safe for pregnant women, as highlighted in the day 'Ham and Pregnancy' that has taken place at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Córdoba in collaboration with the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Los Pedroches and PDO Priego de Córdoba. Manuela Hernández, coordinator of the Agrifood Technology Center, details what the conditions the ham would have to be to be safe:
"After 15 months of maturation of the ham, toxoplasmosis loses its action, therefore, the ham with designation of origin, with 24 months of cure, ensures the parasite does not survive. Hence the importance of labeling the product to consume the healing time is detailed. "
But is it safe or not?
Those responsible for the study (and many gynecologists) are already ceasing to prohibit the consumption of Iberian ham to pregnant women: "It should not be discarded during pregnancy when there are no conclusive studies that establish that its intake increases the chances of becoming infected by toxoplasmosis," he says the head of the Women's Unit, José Eduardo Arjona, who emphasizes the benefits of ham as a heart-healthy food.
However, our gynecologist may recommend that we avoid this product because, at the moment, there is no general protocol that clarifies how to act on this issue. What the website of the Spanish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SEGO) says about it is:
"The processes of smoked or cured meats and sausages have failed to eliminate the cysts. Studies are being conducted in this direction obtaining promising data with healing processes that last more than two years in products such as Iberian ham.
What if we freeze it?
Freezing it could be a good method to enjoy this delicacy, but the SEGO makes a note:
"Freezing seems to be effective in eliminating the infective capacity of cysts as long as it exceeds 48 hours at temperatures below 20 ° C. Most domestic freezers reach -18 ° C, so it is important to pay attention to this data"
We have tried to obtain from this body an answer to the question Is it safe to eat serrano ham for pregnant women?. But for now we have not got an answer.
