Randy Chandler
If you're pregnant and have accidentally eaten blue cheese, don't panic. While it's important to be careful about what you eat during pregnancy, and soft blue cheeses are usually off the menu, you can take some steps to reduce the risk of bacterial infection. Blue cheese is often made with unpasteurized milk, which can carry the Listeria bacteria and cause listeriosis, a potentially dangerous infection for pregnant women. However, cooking blue cheese or choosing pasteurized varieties can eliminate the bacteria and make it safer to consume during pregnancy. If you've eaten unpasteurized blue cheese, monitor your health for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or flu-like symptoms, and contact your healthcare provider if you're concerned.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Risk of bacterial infection | Listeria |
| Type of infection | Listeriosis |
| Symptoms of infection | Flu-like symptoms, fever, aches and pains, digestive issues, headaches, stiff neck, confusion, convulsions, loss of balance |
| Complications | Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, newborn illnesses, abnormal foetal development |
| Treatment | Antibiotics |
| Prevention | Pasteurisation, cooking |
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What You'll Learn
Don't panic, but monitor your health for flu-like symptoms
Don't panic, but do be vigilant about monitoring your health for flu-like symptoms. Listeriosis, the condition you may be at risk of contracting from consuming unpasteurized blue cheese, often presents much like the flu or a stomach bug. Symptoms include fever, aches and pains, digestive issues, and headaches. More severe symptoms include a stiff neck, confusion, convulsions, and loss of balance.
Listeriosis is caused by the bacteria Listeria, which is found in unpasteurized dairy products. It can be harmful to both you and your baby. Listeria can cross the placenta and may be fatal to your unborn child. It can also lead to other complications, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth. While listeriosis is rare, pregnant women are up to 20 times more likely to contract it than the general population.
If you have eaten unpasteurized blue cheese while pregnant, the best course of action is to monitor your symptoms and contact your healthcare provider if you experience any of the symptoms described above or if you are concerned. A blood test can confirm the infection, and if diagnosed early, antibiotics can be used for treatment.
To avoid the risk of Listeria infection, choose pasteurized blue cheese or cook your blue cheese before consuming it, as this will kill off any harmful bacteria.
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The risks of eating blue cheese while pregnant
If you are pregnant and have accidentally eaten blue cheese, the best thing to do is not panic. Instead, monitor your health and look for any symptoms of illness.
Blue cheese is often made with unpasteurized milk, which puts it at high risk of causing listeriosis, a potentially dangerous infection for pregnant women. Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacteria listeria, which is commonly found in unpasteurized blue cheese. It can lead to flu-like symptoms, fever, aches and pains, digestive issues, and headaches. More severe symptoms include a stiff neck, confusion, convulsions, and loss of balance. Listeria can also enter the mother's nervous system, causing bacterial meningitis or inflammation around the brain and spinal cord. While listeriosis is rare, pregnant women are 20 times more likely to get it than the general population. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.
To avoid the risk of listeria, it is recommended to only consume pasteurized blue cheese during pregnancy. Pasteurization heats the milk to a temperature that kills harmful bacteria, including listeria. Cooking blue cheese can also kill the listeria bacteria, so thoroughly cooked dishes with blue cheese are likely safe to eat while pregnant.
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Safe alternatives to blue cheese during pregnancy
If you're craving blue cheese while pregnant, don't worry—you can satisfy your cravings as long as you take some precautions. Blue cheese can be safe to eat during pregnancy if it's made from pasteurized milk, which kills harmful bacteria such as Listeria, reducing the risk of Listeriosis.
To ensure the blue cheese you're consuming is safe, always check the label. Look for the word pasteurized on the packaging. If you're eating out, ask whether the blue cheese used is pasteurized, especially when ordering salads or dishes that include blue cheese. Avoid unmarked cheeses—if the cheese doesn't clearly indicate it's pasteurized, it's best to avoid it.
If you're looking for safe alternatives to blue cheese during pregnancy, consider hard cheeses, which are generally safe regardless of pasteurization. Here are some specific types of cheese that are recommended as safer alternatives:
- Halloumi
- Goat cheese
- Cream cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Paneer
- Processed cheese spreads
- Mozzarella cheese
In addition, Stilton, a hard blue cheese, is considered an exception. It is more acidic and has very low moisture, rendering the bacteria harmless. So, even if you're opting for unpasteurized blue cheese, Stilton is a safer choice.
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How to identify if blue cheese is pasteurized
If you are pregnant and craving blue cheese, it is important to ensure that the cheese is pasteurized to avoid the risk of Listeria infection, which can be harmful to both you and your baby. Here are some detailed ways to identify if the blue cheese you are about to consume is pasteurized:
Check the Label and Packaging
Look for the word "pasteurized" on the label or packaging. This confirmation ensures that the milk used to make the cheese has been heat-treated to kill harmful bacteria, including Listeria. If the cheese is not clearly marked as pasteurized, it is best to avoid it, especially during pregnancy.
Ask at Restaurants or Retailers
If you're dining out or ordering dishes that include blue cheese, don't hesitate to ask the server or retailer if the cheese is pasteurized. If the restaurant or retailer cannot confirm, it is recommended to choose a safer alternative.
Opt for Known Pasteurized Varieties
Some blue cheese varieties are known to be pasteurized, such as Stilton or Danish Blue. These pasteurized options are generally considered safe for pregnant women.
Check the Age of the Cheese
In some countries, such as the United States, there are regulations regarding the production and sale of cheese. If a cheese is less than 60 days old, it must be made of pasteurized milk. Therefore, if you come across a fresh blue cheese that is less than 60 days old, it is likely to be pasteurized.
Cook or Heat the Cheese
If you're unsure about the pasteurization status of your blue cheese, cooking or heating it can help eliminate bacteria. Apply a strong source of heat (at least 158°F or 70°C) to the cheese, which will effectively kill the Listeria bacteria.
Remember, while blue cheese can be enjoyed during pregnancy, it is essential to take these precautions to ensure the cheese is pasteurized and safe for consumption.
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What is listeria and why is it dangerous during pregnancy?
Listeria is a type of bacteria that can contaminate food and cause illness. Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a harmful type of bacteria that can be found in refrigerated, ready-to-eat foods such as meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, and produce. It can also be found in soil, water, and animal feces. When eaten, L. monocytogenes-contaminated food may result in a disease called listeriosis.
Listeriosis is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be very serious, especially for pregnant women, people older than 65, and those with weakened immune systems. It is most commonly caused by eating improperly processed deli meats and unpasteurized milk products. It can also be found in certain processed foods such as soft cheeses, hot dogs, and deli meats that have been contaminated after processing.
During pregnancy, a listeria infection is likely to cause only mild symptoms in the mother, such as flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, muscle aches, diarrhea, upset stomach, stiff neck, headache, confusion, or loss of balance. However, the consequences for the baby can be devastating. Listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, low birth weight, and even death. Late-term fetuses who have an infection may develop a wide range of health problems, including intellectual disability, paralysis, seizures, blindness, or impairments of the brain, heart, or kidney.
To prevent listeriosis, it is important to follow food safety guidelines such as washing hands for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food, keeping the refrigerator clean and sanitary, and avoiding raw or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs. Pregnant women should also avoid all soft blue cheeses, as they may contain higher counts of the Listeria bacteria, and instead opt for pasteurized blue cheese or cooked blue cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
If you accidentally ate blue cheese while pregnant, monitor your health and look for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, flu-like symptoms, aches and pains, digestive issues, and headaches. If your fever goes beyond 38°C, contact your healthcare provider.
Blue cheese, especially unpasteurised blue cheese, carries a higher risk of contamination with Listeria, a bacterium that can cause a serious infection called Listeriosis.
The symptoms of Listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues. In pregnant women, it can lead to more severe complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious infections in newborns.
To reduce the risk of Listeria infection, choose pasteurised blue cheese or cook the blue cheese before consuming it.
Yes, hard cheeses are generally safe to consume during pregnancy, regardless of whether they are pasteurised or not. Some safe alternatives include halloumi, goat cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and mozzarella.
