Pregnancy food guidance
Deli salads
Depends—Preparation and storage matter
Packaged or homemade deli-style salads can be fine when ingredients are pasteurized and storage is controlled.
What changes the answer for Deli salads
- Prefer sealed products with clear dates.
- Keep at 40°F or below.
- Use pasteurized eggs in homemade dressing.
Why it matters for Deli salads
Open deli cases make time, temperature and cross-contamination harder to verify.
Practical takeaway
Choose a sealed refrigerated product or make it yourself.
Sources and review details
- Review status
- Source reviewed
- Last reviewed
- Guidance region
- United States
- FDA: Ready-to-Eat Foods for Moms-to-Be (opens in a new tab)Checked
- The Bump: Top Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy (opens in a new tab)Checked Medically reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD