In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “can you eat custard when pregnant” with an in-depth analysis of the consumption of custard during pregnancy. Moreover, we are going to highlight the types of custard to avoid in pregnancy and the brands of pasteurized custard.
Can you eat custard when pregnant?
No, pregnant women cannot eat homemade custard, which is prepared through the use of unpasteurized egg, milk, cream, or buttermilk. The same is the case with store-bought custard products as they also contain unpasteurized ingredients inside them.
Consumption of custard during pregnancy:
The custard is safe to consume during pregnancy if the egg yolks added in the recipe are pasteurized. Most of the time, the commercially produced custard is pasteurized but homemade custards are not pasteurized to the safe level.
Traditionally, the custard is prepared by using raw egg yolks, and the raw eggs are also added to the recipe to thicken the sauce, which is not heated further. Due to this reason, the consumption of custard is not considered safe during pregnancy.
On a commercial level, the ingredients in the recipe are processed through the pasteurization process. The custards are generally referred to as store-bought, supermarket, or brand-name custard. You can easily store them in the refrigerator or at room temperature if they have a longer shelf life.
The pre-made or powdered custard, purchased from the shops are generally prepared by using pasteurized eggs, which in turn, makes the product safe to consume. For reassurance, always check the ingredients on the pack and make sure that there is no unpasteurized ingredient in the product.
Moreover, the custards prepared at home or in restaurants are also safe to eat if the eggs or other dairy products used in the recipe are being pasteurized. The unpasteurized ingredients may contain some microbes, which are responsible for causing food poisoning upon consumption.
Types of custard to avoid in pregnancy:
The custard, which contains unpasteurized ingredients, such as eggs, egg yolks, cream, butter, milk, or buttermilk, should be avoided by pregnant women. These ingredients are not processed through the pasteurization process and thus, are exhibiting the chance to transmit salmonella, when eaten.
The pasteurized items, especially egg yolks, are unique items, which cannot be accessed easily at homes, and thus, the ones used in custards for thickening are unpasteurized. After thickening with eggs, the custards are not heated to a sufficient level to kill all the germs in eggs. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid consuming custards, made of unpasteurized ingredients.
Brands of pasteurized custards:
The custard, produced on a commercial level, is almost always pasteurized. The commercially-made custard is the one, which has been produced in the factory and then available in the stores and supermarkets. This type of custard is safe to consume while pregnant as it contains pasteurized eggs, milk, cream, or other ingredients.
For ensuring the safety level, you should check the label on the product as the items with pasteurized ingredients are labeled so. You can normally store the custard at room temperature. The fresh custards are also available in the market in the refrigeration section of the supermarkets. The ingredients, added in fresh custard, are also pasteurized.
Some of the brands of custard, which are known to produce pasteurized products are as follows:
Ambrosia Devon custard:
This is the most common brand of custard in the United Kingdom and is a milk-based product, which is produced without the use of an egg in its production. The milk and buttermilk used in it are pasteurized so you can easily consume them during pregnancy.
Powdered custard:
Powdered custard is also an eggless recipe. It means that it can easily be consumed by people who are allergic to eggs or by pregnant women who are at the risk of developing infections by microbes present in eggs.
Paul’s custard:
It is also a popular brand in Australia and is prepared through the use of pasteurized milk and cream. It means that you can easily consume it in pregnancy without worrying about safety concerns. Moreover, the products do not contain eggs.
Anchor custard:
Anchor custard is a famous brand of New Zealand and is prepared without any egg in it. The dairy used in the production is also pasteurized, which makes the consumption of this type of custard safe during pregnancy.
Supermarket custard:
You can find fresh custard in the supermarkets in their refrigeration section. These commercial products are made through the use of pasteurized ingredients, such as eggs, milk, cream, butter, or buttermilk. It means that the product is safe to consume while pregnant.
Here, you can find the list of the foods to consume or avoid during the pregnancy.
Conclusion:
In this brief guide, we answered the question “can you eat custard when pregnant” with an in-depth analysis of the consumption of custard during pregnancy. Moreover, we discussed what are the types of custard to avoid in pregnancy and what are the brands of pasteurized custard.