can I eat hot dogs?
Hot dogs are safe during pregnancy only when heated until steaming hot all the way through. Straight from the pack or lukewarm from a street cart, they carry a listeria risk that's not worth taking.
why it matters
Hot dogs are pre-cooked, but listeria can contaminate them after cooking, during packaging. Because they're often eaten with minimal reheating, the CDC specifically names hot dogs in its listeria guidance for pregnant women. Proper reheating fixes the problem completely.
how to have it safely
Boil, grill or microwave hot dogs until steaming hot (74°C / 165°F) right before eating. Avoid ones that have been sitting warm for a while, and keep the juice from the packet off other food.
worth knowing
- CDC: pregnant women should not eat hot dogs unless reheated to steaming hot.
- The liquid in hot dog packets can harbour listeria — wash hands and surfaces after handling.
- The same advice applies to frankfurters, saveloys and other pre-cooked sausages.
- Fully cooked fresh sausages (cooked through from raw at home) are simply safe — this caution is about ready-to-eat packs.
common questions
Can I eat a hot dog from a street vendor while pregnant?
Only if it's served genuinely steaming hot. If it's been sitting in lukewarm water for a while, skip it — that temperature range is where listeria thrives.
Are frankfurters straight from the jar or packet safe?
No — even though they're pre-cooked, they can pick up listeria during packaging. Heat them until steaming first, and they're fine.
also in meat
Aligned with guidance from the NHS, FDA and WHO. This is general information, not personal medical advice — check with your midwife or doctor about your own situation. How we write.