Caesar salad may seem simple, but it can raise many questions when you are pregnant. There are anchovies and fish in the salad. There’s also the cold, cooked, chicken. The dressing, which traditionally contains raw eggs, is the last thing. Does it make sense to use this dressing for pregnant women?

Can I Eat Caesar Salad and Caesar Dressing When Pregnant? If made fresh, pregnant women can eat Caesar salad. Caesar Salad dressings are only safe for pregnant women if they have been pasteurized, as it contains raw eggs.

Here I have tried to answer all the questions that you may have about Caesar salad.

Most importantly, I have compiled a list of all Caesar salad dressings that are safe during pregnancy so you don’t need to worry about ‘raw eggs’. You can also make your own pregnancy-safe Caesar Salad Dressing.

Is Caesar Salad Safe To Eat When You’re Pregnant?

Let’s start with the salad before moving on to the dressing.

As with all pre-prepared foods, there is a slight risk of contamination. Salads that are sold in plastic clamshells or bags. Brands like Fresh Express, Dole and Taylor Farms are popular.

It is best to wash and prepare salads yourself. You can either wash the pre-chopped salad, pre-prepared kits, or bagged, pre-chopped salad if you prefer, or you can make your own.

This article contains tips and guidelines for washing salads properly while pregnant.

Romaine lettuce, which is the most common type of lettuce used in Caesar salads, has been the target of numerous recalls over the last few years. E Coli was the cause of the most recent recall, which occurred in 2019. The contamination of romaine lettuce in California affected 167 people. (Source: CDC).

As part of your healthy pregnancy diet, you can still enjoy romaine lettuce. However, it is best to wash and prepare the lettuce yourself.

Croutons, bacon pieces, and parmesan are all safe for pregnant women to consume. If you enjoy cheese, then you should check out this ultimate list to see which cheeses pregnant women can eat.

Caesar Salad Toppings – Pregnancy Safety

Caesar salad was originally just romaine and croutons with parmesan shaves. Later additions include chicken and Salmon. Here’s some more information for those who like their Caesars that way:

Treat your Caesar salad with chicken like a cold-cut or deli meat. Here’s an in-depth guide.

Your Caesar salad may contain shrimp. If so, check out my guide for pregnant women on eating shrimp.

You might also find this article useful if you like salmon in your Caesar salad.

It’s now time to answer the questions you have about Caesar salad dressing.

Is Caesar Salad Dressing Safe for Pregnant Women?

Caesar salad dressings are safe for pregnant women if they contain raw eggs.

Other ingredients in the Caesar dressing (oil and parmesan) are generally safe for pregnant women.

Salmonella is the risk that raw eggs pose. How can you tell?

Does Caesar salad dressing contain raw eggs?

Traditional Caesar dressing is often made with raw eggs. Pregnant women should avoid this type of fresh Caesar dressing, as it contains salmonella.

What does “freshly made” mean?

• Homemade dressings are usually made with raw eggs and should be avoided. (Don’t worry, though; you’ll discover a recipe for Caesar dressing that is safe during pregnancy later in this article).
• If you are in the UK and you are using Lion Mark eggs you can use them raw to make a traditional, freshly-made dressing while you are pregnant. Only Lion Mark eggs are allowed in the UK. For more information, see my guide on eggs and pregnancy.
• Restaurants that make their dressing are likely to stick with the traditional recipe, making their Caesar dressing using raw or semi-cooked eggs. Before ordering at a restaurant, always ask.

The traditional recipe does not require raw eggs in all Caesar dressings.

Commercially produced Caesar dressing in a bottle that is shelf stable (i.e. It is safe to consume for pregnant women as long as it’s not kept in the refrigerator when you purchase it. Below I have listed brands.

Is store-bought Caesar salad dressing pasteurized?

The store-bought Caesar salad dressing in a bottled form is generally safe for pregnant women. It is safe for pregnant women because the dressing either does not contain eggs at all or has been pasteurized.

It is not always stated on the packaging. If the dressing is shelf stable (i.e. If you purchase it from the shelf, not a refrigerator, it is likely to be pasteurized or sterilized and safe for pregnant women.

You will find this dressing in the refrigerator as it must be refrigerated. Check the label of fresh, chilled dressings. Avoid those that contain raw, unpasteurized eggs.

Below I have listed many popular dressings and whether or not they are safe during pregnancy.

Which brands of Caesar salad dressing are safe for pregnant women?

You don’t need to worry about reading labels and worrying next time you go shopping! I have listed many popular brands of Caesar salad dressings that are safe during pregnancy.

• Panera Bread I contacted Panera Bread, and they confirmed the Caesar Salad Dressing is safe for women who are pregnant as all eggs used in this dressing have been pasteurized and salted before being frozen. The “At Home bottled dressings are also safe.
• Cardini – contains egg but is pasteurized and safe for pregnant women.
• Ken’s contains egg yolk but has been pasteurized to be safe for pregnant women.
• Trader Joe’s — Doesn’t have any eggs and is, therefore, safe for pregnant women.
• Costco (also known as Kirkland ) – contains eggs but they are pasteurized and therefore safe.
• Outback Steakhouse I contacted Outback, and they confirmed their Caesar dressing does not contain unpasteurized or raw eggs. It is safe for pregnant women.
• Texas Roadhouse – I contacted Texas Roadhouse to inquire about their Caesar Salad dressing and am waiting to hear back from them.
• Newman’s Own– Newman’s own Caesar dressing (which does not contain eggs) is safe for women who are pregnant.
• Marzetti offers two Caesar dressings, one fresh and refrigerated, the other shelf-stable. They replied that I could contact them. We do not use any raw milk or egg in our products. “The milk and eggs are pasteurized before mixing with the other ingredients, but the final product isn’t pasteurized.”
  Marzetti dressings can be used by pregnant women. Just make sure to keep them in the refrigerator and use them within the expiration date listed on the package.
• Sweetgreen The Caesar dressing is made at Sweetgreen with mayo instead of egg. Sweetgreen confirmed to me that they use pasteurized free-range eggs in their mayo, which is why their Caesar dressing is safe for pregnant women (source: Sweetgreen).
• Kraft_ Kraft’s bottled Caesar salad does contain eggs but is pasteurized, so it’s safe to eat during pregnancy.
• Renee’s – Renee’s is part of Kraft. Renee’s Caesar Dressing contains only pasteurized cheese and eggs, according to the company.

Does Caesar Salad Dressing Have Anchovies in it?

The anchovy flavour in Caesar dressing used to come only from Worcestershire Sauce, which is made with anchovies.

anchovies are now more common in Caesar dressing than ever before. Anchovies found in Caesar salad are safe to consume by pregnant women.

Check each recipe as they vary greatly.

A Pregnancy-Safe Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe

You can enjoy a Caesar salad at home (with a good dressing) if you are pregnant.

I swear by this recipe for my favourite pregnancy-friendly Caesar salad dressing, which tastes as good as versions that contain eggs.

To avoid salmonella, you can use commercial mayonnaise containing pasteurized eggs. This article contains a list of recommended Mayo brands that are safe for pregnancy.

This recipe yields about 1 cup of dressing in ten to fifteen minutes.

Ingredients:

2 cloves of minced garlic (3 if you want it to be garlicky)
Two whole anchovy filets, finely minced, from a can, or one teaspoon of anchovy paste
Hellman’s) or any other good commercially made mayo. Hellman’s)
Fresh Lemon Juice
Use more lemon juice if you do not have white wine or vinegar.
Dijon Mustard 1 teaspoon of good quality mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Half a cup of finely grated Grana Padano cheese or Parmesan
Taste salt and pepper

Method Whip the mixture until well combined. It should have the consistency of creamy yoghurt. Add a few drops of water if it is too thick.

It usually requires a generous amount of black pepper depending on your taste. Enjoy!

I Ate A Caesar Salad When Pregnant, Now I’m Worried

You may have just realized that you ate a Caesar Salad plus dressing and are now paranoid or worried that you did something ‘wrong.’

Do not panic, the odds are in your favour. The dressing you ate probably used pasteurized eggs. Compare the name of the restaurant or brand to the list above.

It is possible that the Caesar salad you bought or made at home was made with raw eggs. The chances of getting salmonella are still extremely small.

You should remain calm, and monitor your symptoms for anything out of the norm, such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea or nausea (source: MedicalNet).

If you haven’t felt well for more than 72 hours, your symptoms will likely be gone. To be safe, if you feel unwell contact a doctor immediately. Salmonella can still be treated and recovered from, even if you are pregnant.

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