During pregnancy there are some precautions to be taken regarding nutrition. What the mother ingests goes directly to the fetus. So it’s good to stay away from certain foods. Among these there is also the truffle. This is the period when the truffle season begins. A delicacy that enriches the flavor of each dish. But from which it is good to stay away in pregnancy. Let’s see why.
What is the truffle
The truffle is an underground fungus, that is, it lives underground. It is shaped like a tuber and can be found near the roots of some plants. Mainly hazel, poplar, oak and lime. There are several species, the most famous are the white truffle and the prized black truffle.
The uses in the kitchen are varied. Excellent for a first course with tagliatelle, it can also be used to make a delicious truffle oil.
Why the truffle is dangerous in pregnancy
The truffle, as we have said, lives underground. This is precisely why it is potentially harmful to the health of pregnant women. In fact you run the risk of contracting the toxoplasmosis.
Toxoplasmosis is a pathology that a woman contracts during the gestation period can cause serious problems for the fetus. Being fresh, the truffle can be considered as dangerous as raw meat for future mothers. It is also a food that, even though it can be cleaned well, is impossible to sterilize.
So is it a food to absolutely avoid?
It is good to consult your doctor, but there are some ways to be able to eat truffles in a safer way:
a) Frozen: the risk of presence of toxoplasmosis is reset after keeping it frozen for at least 3 days.
b) Dried: in order to be sold dried, the truffle undergoes sterilization and pasteurization processes that guarantee its safety.
c) Lyophilized: as for the dried one, the freeze-dried truffle undergoes processes that guarantee the annihilation of the toxoplasmosis bacterium.
Even if, as we have seen, there are some methods that allow a risk-free consumption, it is always good to be cautious. Giving up truffles for 9 months is a sacrifice that can be made.
And that’s why the truffle is dangerous in pregnancy.
Remember that toxoplasmosis can also be contracted in other ways. To learn more, click who.
