Can you eat pepperoni pizza while pregnant?

Yes, you can eat pepperoni pizza while pregnant, provided the pepperoni is thoroughly cooked. Current NHS pregnancy guidance advises taking care with cold cured meats such as pepperoni because of a small risk of toxoplasmosis. Cooking cured meat thoroughly reduces that risk.

That makes freshly cooked pepperoni pizza different from eating slices of cold pepperoni straight from the packet. On a pizza, the practical point is to make sure the pepperoni has been properly cooked as part of the dish.

The cheese matters too, but most familiar pizza cheeses, including mozzarella made from pasteurised milk, can be eaten during pregnancy.

Is pepperoni safe during pregnancy?

Pepperoni is a cured meat, and NHS pregnancy food guidance advises caution with cold cured meats.

Other examples include salami, chorizo and prosciutto. Unlike meats that are cooked during production, some cured meats are preserved through curing and fermentation and may not have been cooked.

The NHS says there is a small risk of getting toxoplasmosis from eating raw or undercooked cured meat. It advises cooking cured meat thoroughly to reduce this risk.

So if pepperoni is being served hot and thoroughly cooked on a pizza, it can be eaten during pregnancy.

Cold pepperoni that has not been cooked is different. If you want to eat it during pregnancy, NHS guidance advises cooking it thoroughly first.

Does the pizza need to be piping hot?

The important point is that the pepperoni is thoroughly cooked.

If you are ordering a freshly baked pepperoni pizza, the topping is normally cooked in the oven along with the rest of the pizza. If you are reheating leftover pizza, follow normal food safety guidance and make sure it is heated thoroughly.

Food Standards Agency guidance advises reheating leftovers only once and heating them until steaming hot throughout.

Do not rely only on the appearance of the pepperoni if you are unsure how a pizza has been prepared. If you are eating somewhere where the cured meat may have been added after cooking, you can ask how it was prepared.

What about the cheese on pepperoni pizza?

Many cheeses commonly used on pizza can be eaten during pregnancy.

The NHS says pasteurised or unpasteurised hard cheeses such as cheddar, Parmesan and Gruyère are safe. Pasteurised semi-hard and soft cheeses, including mozzarella, cottage cheese, feta, halloumi, cream cheese and paneer, can also be eaten.

Some soft mould-ripened and blue cheeses need to be cooked until steaming hot before eating. These include cheeses such as brie, camembert, chèvre with a white rind, gorgonzola and Roquefort.

On a pizza, these cheeses can be eaten if they have been thoroughly cooked until steaming hot.

If you are buying a pizza with an unusual cheese topping and are unsure what it contains, checking the ingredients or asking the restaurant is reasonable.

Can you eat takeaway pepperoni pizza?

A freshly cooked takeaway pepperoni pizza can be eaten during pregnancy if the pepperoni has been thoroughly cooked and the other ingredients follow pregnancy food safety guidance.

The same principles apply whether the pizza comes from a restaurant, supermarket, takeaway or your own kitchen.

If the pizza has been sitting at room temperature for a long time, normal food hygiene becomes relevant. The Food Standards Agency advises cooling leftovers and putting them in the fridge within one to two hours.

When reheating leftovers, heat them until steaming hot throughout and only reheat them once.

If you are uncertain about how a particular pizza has been stored or prepared, choosing something freshly cooked is a straightforward option.

What if the pepperoni is added after the pizza is cooked?

Some restaurants add cured meats after a pizza comes out of the oven.

If the pepperoni has not been cooked, it should be treated as cold cured meat rather than assuming that being on a hot pizza has made it suitable.

NHS pregnancy guidance advises cooking cold cured meats such as pepperoni thoroughly because of the small toxoplasmosis risk.

If you are ordering somewhere that serves pepperoni or similar cured meat uncooked after baking, you can ask for it to be cooked with the pizza instead.

Can you eat frozen pepperoni pizza?

Frozen pepperoni pizza can be eaten during pregnancy when it is cooked according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the pepperoni is thoroughly cooked.

Follow the instructions on the packaging for cooking time, temperature and storage.

Do not assume that a frozen pizza is ready to eat before cooking simply because some of its ingredients look cooked. Packaged foods should be prepared according to the manufacturer’s directions.

If you have leftovers, refrigerate them promptly and follow food safety guidance when reheating.

What about vegetarian or plant-based pepperoni pizza?

Plant-based pepperoni does not carry the same raw cured meat concern as traditional meat pepperoni, but the rest of the pizza still needs normal food hygiene.

Check the ingredients if you have allergies or dietary restrictions, and follow the storage and cooking instructions on the packet or pizza packaging.

The cheese guidance remains the same if the pizza contains dairy cheese.

A vegetarian pepperoni pizza can therefore be a convenient alternative if you prefer it, but you do not need to switch from cooked meat pepperoni solely because you are pregnant.

Is pepperoni pizza healthy during pregnancy?

Pizza can fit into an overall varied diet during pregnancy. There is no need to label individual meals as good or bad.

The NHS recommends a balanced pregnancy diet that includes fruit and vegetables, starchy foods, protein foods and dairy or alternatives.

Pepperoni and other processed meats can be high in salt and saturated fat, so they are generally foods to eat less often or in smaller amounts as part of wider healthy eating guidance.

That does not mean you need to feel guilty about having pepperoni pizza. Pregnancy nutrition is about your overall eating pattern, not whether every individual meal is nutritionally perfect.

What if you already ate cold pepperoni?

Realising afterwards that a food appears on pregnancy guidance can be worrying.

The NHS says not to worry if you have already eaten one of the foods it advises avoiding or taking care with. It states that it is unlikely to have affected you or your baby if you have not become unwell.

If you feel unwell or are worried about what you ate, speak to your midwife or GP.

Toxoplasmosis often causes no symptoms, but the NHS lists possible flu-like symptoms including a high temperature, aching muscles, tiredness, feeling sick, a sore throat and swollen glands. If you are pregnant and think you may have toxoplasmosis, contact your GP.

When to get professional advice

You do not normally need to contact your midwife simply because you have eaten thoroughly cooked pepperoni pizza during pregnancy.

Speak to your midwife or GP if you have eaten cold or undercooked cured meat and are worried, particularly if you develop symptoms afterwards.

The NHS advises contacting your GP if you are pregnant and think you may have toxoplasmosis. If you need urgent medical help and cannot contact your GP, NHS 111 can advise you.

Seek professional advice if you become unwell after eating something you are concerned about rather than trying to diagnose the cause yourself.

For a life-threatening emergency, call 999.