Can You Eat Frozen Jamón During Pregnancy?

Many expectant mothers wonder whether it is possible to eat frozen jamón during pregnancy without putting their baby at risk, because eating raw or semi-cured meats is not recommended during pregnancy, and jamón ibérico is one of them.

If you have been wondering about this, here is the answer!

Why Is It Recommended Not to Eat Jamón?

The first thing to know is that if jamón is not recommended, it is because the aim is to protect the health of both mother and baby from illnesses that can be particularly dangerous during pregnancy, such as toxoplasmosis.

This is a parasitic infection that can be contracted by eating raw or undercooked meat, drinking contaminated water or handling cat faeces. Although many women may have had it at some point in their lives without even realising it, during pregnancy it can become very dangerous because it can put both mother and baby at risk.

If, during these nine months, the mother's body were exposed to the toxoplasmosis parasite and she contracted the infection, she could experience health problems. The foetus could also develop congenital toxoplasmosis, which can cause fever or diarrhoea, as well as more serious complications such as blindness.

The Precautions You Should Take

To find out whether the mother has antibodies that protect her against toxoplasmosis, her doctor carries out a test during the first weeks of pregnancy to determine which types of illness she may be more exposed to. If the woman has already had toxoplasmosis, there is no risk and she can eat jamón or cured meats without worry. However, what happens if she has not had it?

It is in these cases that mothers wonder whether they can eat frozen jamón during pregnancy, as the meat is exposed to below-zero temperatures, which can kill the parasite.

Basic Advice

As it is better to be safe than sorry, it is generally recommended to play it safe and avoid jamón and cured meats during pregnancy, no matter how delicious they may be. It is also important to bear in mind that freezing is a preservation process that affects the nuances and texture of ibérico, chorizo, salchichón or lomo. As jamón experts and passionate advocates of the culture surrounding it, we want to protect the quality of our star products.

A great deal of time, care and dedication goes into making each piece, and if you freeze the meat, all the work of the jamón masters will be undone. Believe us, we do not want that to happen.

To protect the mother and baby and, of course, ensure that you can continue to enjoy ibérico and cured meats, Enrique Tomás recommends not freezing the piece and, since pregnancy only lasts nine months, temporarily giving up this delicacy. If you like, you can make sandwiches with:

So, can you eat frozen jamón during pregnancy? If you have not had toxoplasmosis and you have been advised not to eat jamón, it is best to follow that advice. Remember, you only have to go without it for nine months — once the baby is born, you can enjoy it again!