Airplane food when pregnant - safe ?

[ludoh]

About to travel to europe from syd with ba and as my fiance is pregnant we wonder if the reheated airplane food is safe or whether we can order a special meal for this? Flying in Y and all websites state to stay away from reheated food and pre-prepared food. Wondering if any experiences or advice ?

 

[Mal]

Flying in Y and all websites state to stay away from reheated food and pre-prepared food.

I believe the common wisdom is that rather than avoiding those foods, you need to ensure that they are heated through properly, and stored correctly (ie don't reheat 3 day old takeaway or let refrigerated raw food get too hot). There are certain foods that should be avoided, but they are more foods that can harbour bacteria like oysters, raw eggs or certain cheeses.

Of course you have little control over the food process on a plane, but I'm yet to encounter any food that is not piping hot all the way through on a plane and the processes that airlines have in place are fairly rigid for the storage and heating.

I don't know of any non-cooked food dietary choices onboard planes. If worried about bacteria build-up, then perhaps a vegetarian meal choice may assist - but they can also harbour bacteria too if not properly stored.

I'll also add that I'm not a doctor, haven't been pregnant nor study up on pregnancy tips on a frequent basis... your Doctor can give some better ideas!

 

[Travel Guru]

I don't know of any non-cooked food dietary choices onboard planes. If worried about bacteria build-up, then perhaps a vegetarian meal choice may assist - but they can also harbour bacteria too if not properly stored.

You may be able to order a Raw Meal or a Fruit Platter, the latter of which is my standard order on QF domestic services.

TG

 

[markis10]

I would order low fat options for her for the flight, less likely to get the overprocessed meats and soft cheeses etc, I am sure she has the sense to stay away from self serve areas of the QP.

 

[Katie]

It might be worth being careful. I got food poisoning after a trip to Singapore, and based on when the gastro started, I *think* it was from the plane food (BA J) rather than anything I ate on the ground in Singapore. I can't remember what type of food poisoning it was, but it wasn't listeriosis. I have had that type of food poisoning before (from under-cooked gyoza in a sushi place) and was from chicken/pork being under-cooked.

That being said, I had two BNE-LAX-DEN-LAX-BNE trips while in the earlier stages of my pregnancy in QF Y, and had no issues. And no issues with the food on flight in BA J to Singapore.
I'd be careful about taking the chicken or fish option in Y, and if your fiance wishes, perhaps get the Vege option. If she's unsure, best to check with her GP/OB/medical carer for advice. After all, these are just my opinions and experiences, and I'm not a medical expert.

 

[harvyk]

I think she'd be right with airline food. Whilst there are the standard jokes about it not been overly good, they are quite careful to ensure that the food is cooked properly, stored properly and then reheated properly.

About the only thing I'd be doing is letting the airline know that your fiance is pregnant and ask for her meal to be delivered first if possible, that way it doesn't spend 15 minutes sitting in a trolley.

 

[Flying Fox]

As always, speak to your Dr but from my experience (QF international) I think that you will be fine. Just let the FA's know too and they are more than happy to assist where possible (eg. making sure meals are extra hot etc).

Wife and I did this when she was pregnant. Got twin boys. I'm pretty sure that the twins weren't caused by the airline meals.

 

[prozac]

Stay away from the chicken and pate (at home also).

I think after 50 years of packaged airplane food the technology is pretty good. You do not hear of many cases (I haven't heard of any) where passengers en masse have gastric upsets. Well perhaps not on western airlines.

I would be more concerned about the lower air pressure and the fetus, and even that's drawing a long bow.

 

[straitman]

About to travel to europe from syd with ba and as my fiance is pregnant we wonder if the reheated airplane food is safe or whether we can order a special meal for this? Flying in Y and all websites state to stay away from reheated food and pre-prepared food. Wondering if any experiences or advice ?

ludoh,

Many people have and will travel whilst pregnant an have survived without any food issues. As people have said just be a little cautious and make sure the crew are aware of the situation. We travelled HKG-MEL on QF a few years ago whilst my daughter was pregnant and the cabin crew looked after her exceptionally well.

Best wishes for the trip and the baby.

 

[simongr]

About the only thing I'd be doing is letting the airline know that your fiance is pregnant and ask for her meal to be delivered first if possible, that way it doesn't spend 15 minutes sitting in a trolley.

Is that actually necessary? The process of heating the food kills the bacteria - do they magically spring to life when left for a while? The foo is generally covered so no new bugs will be introduced by being left.

I would see airline food as no different to a food court in a mall or even takeaway/delivery food.

 

[Keith009]

Given I have no personal experience with this particular topic I have nothing useful to add, except that the best person to ask should be your doctor. Though there are some doctors on AFF, I am sure your own doctor would know your wife's medical circumstances best!

 

[prozac]

Is that actually necessary? The process of heating the food kills the bacteria - do they magically spring to life when left for a while? The foo is generally covered so no new bugs will be introduced by being left.

I would see airline food as no different to a food court in a mall or even takeaway/delivery food.

Yu......uck!!!!! I would like to think and hope that airline (reputable ones) food would have a higher level of hygiene than the local fast food joint. If not then perhaps I'll fast when I fly. :-|

 

[markis10]

Yu......uck!!!!! I would like to think and hope that airline (reputable ones) food would have a higher level of hygiene than the local fast food joint. If not then perhaps I'll fast when I fly. :-|

When you think about it why should it have a higher level of safety, unlike your local takeaway the food preparation facility may not be required to meet local (council) standards, the one in Brisbane is not required to because its in airport land (not that I am saying they dont meet standards either). Your local takeaway store would probably not sell too much reheated food, thats where the risk is with airlines.

The OP should check with the Doctor on what to watch out for, along with applying some common sense, such as not eating salads etc I have been served raw chicken in J and out of date produce by QF in the past, mistakes happen.

 

[ludoh]

Many thanks for all the experiences and pieces of advise - I appreciate that off course medical advise will come from our GP (and has been sought) but thought some addl info would not hurt.

I'm sure all will be fine but in this case any practical precaution (like not eating the salads, fish etc) is welcome.

Will inform the flight attendants and sure we'll have a great flight.

 

[notthedash]

I would order low fat options for her for the flight, less likely to get the overprocessed meats and soft cheeses etc, I am sure she has the sense to stay away from self serve areas of the QP.

Low fat meals are no longer available. Qantas removed that option last year.

 

[markis10]

Low fat meals are no longer available. Qantas removed that option last year.

Qantas removed them from the online selection, but they are still available under the Diabetic label, as are 12 other options.

 

[harvyk]

Is that actually necessary? The process of heating the food kills the bacteria - do they magically spring to life when left for a while? The foo is generally covered so no new bugs will be introduced by being left.

I would see airline food as no different to a food court in a mall or even takeaway/delivery food.

Whilst it may not be 100% necessary, the quicker the food is taken from oven to plate the less likely that something gets introduced into the food.

Without vacuum sealing the food and then irradiating you can't guarentee all nasties are out of the food.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Last year sometime DJ had a scare where passengers who consumed chicken wraps onboard suffered food poisoning. The wraps were later found to contain listeria bacteria. This was traced back to the catering supplier on Brisbane's Southside. Listeriosis has an incubation period of 70 days so not everybody became ill immediately.

I remember that two pregnant women who were affected both went into premature labour as a result but fortunately both babies were fine.

As has been said above I would avoid seafood and maybe chicken options and take plenty of non-perishable snacks with you.

Also be wary of food purchased at the airport prior to boarding flight - I think sometimes that's the cause of food poisoning in some instances yet passengers assume it's what they ate onboard.

I'm sure you're taking all the necessary precautions and that you'll have an awesome trip.

Cheers

Oz

 

[prozac]

I remember that two pregnant women who were affected both went into premature labour as a result but fortunately both babies were fine.
As has been said above I would avoid seafood and maybe chicken options and take plenty of non-perishable snacks with you.
Cheers

Oz

Stay away from chicken whilst pregnant period unless you have cooked it yourself, and don't touch pate at all. Like I said above don't eat chicken in-flight if you are pregnant,