Direct Answer: Many commercially produced, shelf-stable beef sticks are fully cooked and may be considered a safer option during pregnancy when sourced from USDA-inspected facilities. However, it’s always best to check with your doctor regarding your diet if you are pregnant.*
What to Know
Shelf-stable beef sticks are cooked during production, which eliminates the Listeria risk1 that makes refrigerated or homemade meat products risky during pregnancy.
The main things to watch are sodium and nitrate levels, which can be high in lower-quality sticks. Protein content is a genuine upside.
A quality meat stick delivers 5-12g of protein per stick with a minimal amount of sugar. Not all beef sticks are built the same.
Quick Checks
Fully cooked
Look for "cooked" or "smoked" on the label, not "air-dried" or "cured only."
Shelf-stable packaging
Sealed, room-temperature storage means it went through a heat process that kills harmful bacteria.
USDA-inspected
This confirms the product meets federal food safety standards.
Sodium
High-sodium snacks add up fast during pregnancy. One or two sticks occasionally is reasonable; they shouldn't be a daily staple.
Ingredient quality
Skip anything with artificial flavors, dyes, or questionable fillers.
When to Skip It
Avoid homemade jerky, refrigerated deli-style meat sticks, anything with broken or compromised packaging, or sticks with a sour smell or slimy texture. If it doesn't look or smell right, don't risk it.
Food Safety Note
USDA guidance identifies Listeria as a key risk for pregnant women and recommends sticking to fully cooked, commercially pdrocessed meats. Guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture highlights the importance of choosing properly cooked, commercially processed meats to reduce foodborne risks during pregnancy.
Mythical Meats snack sticks collection is naturally hardwood-smoked, free of artificial ingredients, and made in a USDA-inspected facility. The kind of clean, real-protein snack that doesn't make you second-guess the label.
Check out the Mythical Meats Dungeons & Dragons Variety Pack featuring 12 exotic game snack sticks.
*Disclaimer
This information is for general food safety awareness and is not medical advice.
References
1. sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0923250824000524