[tooticky]

I understand that there are risks with eating unpasteurized dairy products while pregnant, and have read the list of things you are theoretically supposed to avoid.

Just a bit confused about the recommendation to avoid soft cheeses (such as feta, brie, etc).

Should you still avoid them if they have been made using pasteurized milk?

TIA...

Erin

 

[Charles Baudelaire]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tooticky I understand that there are risks with eating unpasteurized dairy products while pregnant, and have read the list of things you are theoretically supposed to avoid. Just a bit confused about the recommendation to avoid soft cheeses (such as feta, brie, etc). Should you still avoid them if they have been made using pasteurized milk? TIA... Erin

Yeah, that's my question too!!! If so, why the BS about soft cheeses? Why not say "cheese made with unpasteurized milk"?

 

[evenstarlight]

Well I still eat Feta.....apparently in the UK the feta is considered a hard cheese.

 

[greenkids]

From my understanding it just should be pasturized. I am 19 weeks with my second, first is 16 months, I never stopped eating brie, feta, etc. as long as it was/is pasturized. They still eat brie on the UK also. BTW I am eating feta on a slice of pizza while typing this.

 

[wanderinggypsy]

Hmm. How about cottage cheese? That with tomatos in it is all I've craved in 2 weeks.

 

[tooticky]

I've been eating the soft pasteurized cheeses too, but was starting to feel nervous!

I think that cottage cheese is on the OK list...

Yay - I'm off to buy some cheese!

 

[katt]

Soft cheese is okay as long as it is pasturized. MOST cheeses in US are pasturized so you're all good.

BTW: I still eat sushi/sashimi on occassion so I see no problem.

 

[Drewsmom]

Soft cheeses to avoid are: Brie, Blue Cheese, Camembert and Feta b/c they can harbor Listeria which is esp. harmful to a developing baby.

Cottage cheese is not only just fine but recommended!

 

[tiffany21074]

lots of mamas around here eat unpasturized milk products while pregnant.

 

[tooticky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drewsmom Soft cheeses to avoid are: Brie, Blue Cheese, Camembert and Feta b/c they can harbor Listeria which is esp. harmful to a developing baby.

So you are saying that even if these cheeses are made with pasteurized milk, they can still harbor Listeria?

 

[Kerriemoe]

No, pasteurized soft cheeses (or those made with raw milk but aged more than 60 days, like cheddar) are OK.

Unripe (less than 60 days aged) cheeses made with raw milk are risky. Yes, many people still eat them and are fine, but some are not. As with anything else we do, it's just a matter of educating yourself on the risks vs. benefits and making an informed judgment.

Here's a helpful website:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pregnant/ataglanc.html

 

[OMama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderinggypsy Hmm. How about cottage cheese? That with tomatos in it is all I've craved in 2 weeks.

I LOVE cottage cheese with tomatoes! I thought I was the only one! I put a little bit of ground black pepper on top too. That sounds really good right now. I only wish I had some cottage cheese. Something about that combination . . . yum!

 

[Drewsmom]

Here is another link from WebMD re: soft cheese (incidentally something else to potentially avoid is deli meat unless it's heated...something I did not know)

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/48/39255.htm

 

[RainbowsMum]

You'd have to handcuff me and lock me up to keep me away from soft cheese!!! Brie and feta are two of my favrites..!!! Not to mention there must be a million more I've eaten......... I eat at least one a week... Havedone the entire pregnancy..!

And I agree, avoid ANYTHING deli..... Can have food poisoning written all over it

:

 

[flyingspaghettimama]

I challenge anyone to go to the store in the USA and find a cheese (soft or no) that is made with unpasteurized (raw) milk. If it is unpasteurized, then it is aged at least 60 days. Aged unpasteurized raw-milk cheeses have a great safety record, that's why they're sold like this.

Anything else would be illegal to sell in the United States (different thread) and you would probably be paying a LOT of money for it. If you know someone who is making unaged, raw milk cheese in their backyard cheese moonshine shop, then...that's pretty unusual. You gotta either smuggle in the good stuff or have "connections" if you know what I mean...

http://www.specialtyfood.com/do/news...rticle?id=1841
"The law requires raw-milk cheese-domestic or imported-to be aged at least 60 days at 35 degrees F. or above. By that point, most cheeses are no longer soft or moist, and are highly unlikely to harbor Listeria. (Some underage raw-milk cheeses do enter this country illegally, and pregnant women should avoid them.)"

I'm sorry, but the misconceptions surrounding cheese is a huge annoyance of mine, and I blame uninformed doctors and out of date websites. Amos Grunebaum, MD needs some new information. People freak if they see you eating brie. And I am probably one of the most hyper-vigilant food safety nuts ever regarding foodborne illnesses...

Here's some light bedtime reading...the real problem in this country with food contamination is meat and antibiotic resistance. Not that we're going to do anything about that problem...but we will ban cheese-eating surrender monkey food...ah, great.
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_envir...illnesses.html

More cheesy reading:
http://archive.salon.com/travel/food.../01/28/cheese/

Enjoy your soft cheeses!

Hearts and Ponies,
FSM