I love raw cookie dough and soft cheeses

[mkmama]

And i eat them. Even last night. Am i terrible? Are raw eggs and feta/brie really that bad?

[ilikethedesert]

I'd be extra careful just in case. Better safe than sorry. The good news... you can make, or buy vegan cookie dough, and you can find pasteurized brie and feta. I just bought some past. goats milk feta at the farmers market! Just try to eat organic!

[Inspired007]

I personally don't like brie but I eat feta all the time. The feta I purchase from the grocery store is pasteurized so it's okay to eat. I sometimes do get feta from Panera bread in the greek salad but I don't eat it anywhere else. I've found that if it's too fresh that it actually has that gamey taste to it, YK? Which I cannot stand. I think maybe that's the difference between unpasteurized or pasteurized as far as taste goes. Not really sure.

I've tried to eat a caesar salad but can't seem to tolerate it lately. I used to love it. Hopefully that will go back to normal after baby is born.

I think everything in moderation is okay for the most part. But then again, I always pray over my food so I believe if it were bacteria laden I'd be spared anyway:wink

[Brisen]

For me, it depends on the source. I was fine with eating raw cookie dough (and letting my kids eat it) when we were getting fresh/organic/free range eggs from a local farmer whose farm I had visited. With regular store bought eggs, I don't think I would do it now.

But I think it's a completely individual decision -- do what you're comfortable with.

[Twinklefae]

I think you should eat it if you want it, and I had cookie dough too!

[hubris]

In life, there are many risky things that we encounter. Every time you get into your car you're taking a risk. The idea that pregnant women should take absolutely NO risks whatsoever is both silly and completely unrealistic. Most pregnant women probably blithely take risks every day that are far worse than the risk of listeriosis from feta or salmonella from eggs. The difference is that our society has deemed certain risks "safe" and socially acceptable. Food risks in pregnant women are not socially acceptable.

If you're educated about the reasons why people warn against raw eggs and soft cheeses, and you know about pasteurization, it's completely up to you to make that risk/benefit analysis and make a decision about what to do.

I do eat pasteurized soft cheeses, and I eat cookie dough.

[weeirishlass]

For the cheeses, any cheese sold in America is pasteurized. Didn't check if you were in the states, and not sure on other country's rules. But unpasteurized cheeses are verboten by the FDA, so soft cheeses are totally okay.

[Shaina]

raw cheeses are unpasterized and they are sold in the U.S

[MoreThanApplesauce]

Personally, I am not eating anything with raw egg or unpasteurized milk while pregnant. While listeria and salmonella might not hurt you, it could make your unborn baby extremely ill. Why take a chance, when he or she completely depends on your judgement for his or her safety.

[pinkorchid2]

I'm avoiding raw eggs and undercooked poultry because I have a history of getting food poisoning from them as an adult.

I'm not as strict about the cheese.

[mizznicole]

I didn't know that pasteurization made a difference. All the gourmet packaged cheeses I looked at recently were, in fact, pasteurized. I won't pass them up next time!

[Romana9+2]

It all just depends on your assessment of the risks, and if you're comfortable with it. I personally am not comfortable with eating unpasteurized cheeses, uncooked deli meat, undercooked meat (or sushi), or raw eggs while pregnant. I feel these are easily controlled risks and I can still enjoy pasteurized cheeses and fully cooked meats and eggs. But I can easily see how someone would look at the data and decide it's a risk worth taking, too.

[GISDiva]

raw cheeses are unpasterized and they are sold in the U.S

Yes, this is true. It is only verboten to import it from other countries (um, where they probably have cleaner factories then we do - but that's a soapbox for another day.). You can find unpasteurized cheese made here in the states, although I bet (at least where I live) that it would be difficult to find in a mainstream grocery store, only the natural food stores.

Most cheese is pasteurized though, just read the label and eat away!

[hubris]

Ditto to the "mainstream grocery store" advice. Yes, unpasteurized cheeses are sold in the US. But they tend to be more gourmet selections, not your average Kraft cheeses carried in non-crunchy grocery stores. Athenos Feta, for example, is pasteurized (and is a Kraft product).

[pinkorchid2]

Does anyony know if Tillamook brand cheese is pasteurized?

[danotoyou2]

Tillamook cheeses are pasteurized, as are most store-bought cheeses. You can look on the label to be sure.

I agree on just checking the sources. I wouldn't eat raw cookie dough with store bought eggs, but I'd do it with my own certified salmonella free chicken's eggs. Also, I drank raw milk occasionally while pregnant, but only from a local farm that's under very strict rules by the state to keep things clean (and checked and tested monthly).

[pinkorchid2]

Danell, I looked on the label and it just says "cultured milk". That's why I was wondering.

[zjande]

Hm, the Tillamook question is a good one. This is what I found:

Tillamook Cheese Products
Unlike most cheeses that are pasteurized, Tillamook Cheddar is “heat shocked”. Please note this explanation from their literature:
” Milk intended for cheddaring is heated to 152�F and held for 30 seconds at that temperature. Because of this process, we are required to cure our cheddar cheese for a minimum of 60 days prior to marketing.”

I totally have more to say but suddenly ds is dying of starvation & demands food. :p

[chel]

what about those "egg beater" type of liquid eggs.

[crazydiamond]

During my first pregnancy, I craved raw chocolate chip cookie dough like no tomorrow!

So you know what I did? I made up a batch from scratch and just omitted the eggs. Since I was going to be eating it raw and not actually baking cookies, it didn't matter. Then I just kept it in the fridge and ate a little bit everyday. That's an easy way to satisfy your cravings without the risk of raw eggs.

BTW, all eggs can have salmonella. It doesn't matter if it comes from an organic, free-range farm or a "standard" caged factory. It was originally thought that most salmonella contaminations were due to dirty or cracked eggs, but that line of thinking has changed. It's now shown that eggs can be come contaminated from the mother hen (whom the salmonella does not make ill) who transmits it to the egg during ovulation. Thus, the egg just "has" it from the beginning.

[crazydiamond]

what about those "egg beater" type of liquid eggs.

Those should be okay since they are pasteurized.

[aylaanne]

Damn, now I want cookie dough.

[InaX5]

raw cookie dough addict to, it's also good if you make up the do & skip the egg, & use a replacement for the egg.

similar question, you know the raw cookie dough in the tube, like pilsbury does it have raw egg? I have to sneak my raw cookie dough, DH is a su chef (spelling?) & it drives him nuts that I like it either as cookie dough or that I like it as cookies if it is under cooked. (extra gooey cookies)

[kittywitty]

I just leave the egg out if I make my own dough so I can eat the whole thing. :lol

I am very squeamish about raw eggs b/c dh gets food poisoning from eating them undercooked at restaurants all the time. However, there *are* pasteurized eggs you can buy, and I don't feel too bad about a nibble here or there if I make brownies or something.

[Banana731]

Who doesn't love cookie dough!?

[mama_y_sol]

Hm, the Tillamook question is a good one. This is what I found:

Tillamook Cheese Products
Unlike most cheeses that are pasteurized, Tillamook Cheddar is “heat shocked”. Please note this explanation from their literature:
” Milk intended for cheddaring is heated to 152�F and held for 30 seconds at that temperature. Because of this process, we are required to cure our cheddar cheese for a minimum of 60 days prior to marketing.”



hmm...I love tillamook cheddar cheese...does this heat-shock method mean it is "okay" for us pregnant women? Anyone else know anything more about this heat-shock method?

[mama_y_sol]

Okay, for anyone who is interested in Tillamook cheddar cheese here is a link I found with some more information:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3846/is_199903/ai_n8848895/pg_2

[hubris]

I think I've heard that there is at least one brand, maybe more, of pasteurized eggs available now. I could be wrong, though. And goodness only knows how expensive they would be...and probably not organic.

[1hautemama]

I am pregnant w/ #3, and I eat all cheeses, the stinkier the better, I drink red wine, eat sushi, and today devoured my MIL's cookie dough:duck: .

[MamaMakingMemories]

Is there any difference in appearance between good eggs and salmonella-infected eggs? I heard someone say once when she ordered her eggs over-easy at a restaurant, "I'm not worried...I've seen salmonella eggs, so I know what they look like."