Randy Chandler
Cheese is a nutritious food to offer your baby, but it's important to be aware of the potential choking hazard it poses. It's best to cut cheese into small strips or melt it to reduce this risk. Babies under the age of two need full-fat cheese to help their bodies and brains grow, but it's important to avoid soft, aged, or mould-ripened cheeses like brie, camembert, and bacteria-ripened goat's cheese, as well as blue-veined cheeses like roquefort. These types of cheese may contain listeria, a harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It's also recommended to avoid unpasteurised cheese, as it poses a high risk of foodborne illness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cheese | Full-fat, pasteurised |
| Cheese to avoid | Soft, aged or mould-ripened cheese, such as brie, Camembert, goat's cheese and blue-veined cheese |
| Cheese to avoid | Unpasteurised cheese |
| Cheese to avoid | Cheese cubes, string cheese, melted mozzarella |
| Cheese to consider | Cottage cheese |
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What You'll Learn
- Full-fat cheeses are best for babies under 2 years old
- Avoid soft, aged, or mould-ripened cheeses, like brie, Camembert, and goat's cheese
- Blue-veined cheeses, like Roquefort, are also unsafe
- Raw or unpasteurised cheese poses a high risk of foodborne illness
- Cheese cubes and individually wrapped string cheese are choking hazards
Full-fat cheeses are best for babies under 2 years old
It's also important to cut the cheese into small strips or melt it to avoid a choking hazard. Certain melted cheeses, like mozzarella, can become stringy and pose a risk if not cut into small pieces.
Mild varieties of cheese are a good place to start before moving onto stronger cheeses. It's best to avoid soft, aged, or mould-ripened cheeses, like brie, Camembert, and bacteria-ripened goat cheese. Blue-veined cheeses, like Roquefort, should also be avoided. These types of cheese may contain listeria.
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Avoid soft, aged, or mould-ripened cheeses, like brie, Camembert, and goat's cheese
It's important to avoid giving your baby soft, aged, or mould-ripened cheeses, such as brie, Camembert, and goat's cheese. These cheeses may contain Listeria, a harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning and make your baby very sick. The same goes for blue-veined cheeses like Roquefort.
To reduce the risk of foodborne illness, always choose pasteurised cheeses for your baby. Unpasteurised or raw cheese poses a high risk of bacterial infections, including salmonellosis and listeriosis, which can be dangerous for babies. Check the labels on cheese products to ensure they are made from pasteurised milk.
When introducing cheese to your baby, start with small amounts and opt for mild, full-fat varieties. You can cut the cheese into small strips or melt it to reduce the risk of choking. Remember to consult your paediatrician if you have any concerns about dairy intolerance or allergies.
While cheese can be a nutritious food for babies, it's important to exercise caution and make informed decisions about the types of cheese you offer. Always prioritise your baby's safety and well-being when introducing new foods.
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Blue-veined cheeses, like Roquefort, are also unsafe
Babies under the age of 2 need the fat to help their bodies and brains grow, so it's important to offer them full-fat cheeses. However, it's also important to avoid soft, aged or mould-ripened cheeses, like brie, Camembert, and bacteria-ripened goat cheese varieties.
Cottage cheese is a good option for babies as it's soft but safe. You can also pulse it in a blender to break up the curds if your baby is only eating smooth purees.
It's also important to cut cheese into small pieces to avoid choking hazards.
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Raw or unpasteurised cheese poses a high risk of foodborne illness
There are many types of cheese that are safe for babies to eat, as long as they are pasteurised and full-fat. Babies under the age of 2 need the fat to help their bodies and brains grow. However, raw or unpasteurised cheese poses a high risk of foodborne illness, especially salmonellosis and listeriosis, which are harmful bacterial infections for babies, children, and adults alike, with more risk of severe symptoms in babies.
Listeria is a harmful bacteria that can make your baby sick with food poisoning. It is often found in soft, aged or mould-ripened cheeses, like brie, Camembert, and bacteria-ripened goat cheese varieties. The same goes for blue-veined cheeses, like Roquefort. These cheeses can be used as part of a cooked recipe, as listeria is killed by cooking. Baked brie, for example, is a safer option.
Babies and young children should not eat mould-ripened soft cheeses, such as brie or Camembert, or ripened goats' milk cheese and soft blue-veined cheese, such as Roquefort. There is a higher risk that these cheeses might carry listeria. Many cheeses are made from unpasteurised milk, so it's better to avoid these. You can check labels on cheeses to make sure they're made from pasteurised milk.
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Cheese cubes and individually wrapped string cheese are choking hazards
Cheese is a nutritious food to offer your baby, but it's important to be aware of the potential choking hazards that cheese can present. Cheese cubes and individually wrapped string cheese are choking hazards for babies. The same goes for melted mozzarella, which is stringy and can become a choking hazard if not cut into small pieces. To avoid this, cut cheeses into small strips or melt them.
Babies under the age of 2 need the fat found in full-fat cheeses to help their bodies and brains grow. It's also important to offer pasteurised cheese to your baby for safety. Many cheeses are made from unpasteurised milk, which can carry a harmful bacteria called listeria. Soft, aged or mould-ripened cheeses like brie, Camembert, and bacteria-ripened goat cheese varieties should be avoided, as well as blue-veined cheeses like Roquefort. These can be used as part of a cooked recipe, however, as listeria is killed by cooking.
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Frequently asked questions
Full-fat, pasteurised cheese is the safest option for babies. Avoid soft, mould-ripened cheeses, such as brie and camembert, as well as blue-veined cheeses, like Roquefort, as these may contain listeria, a harmful bacteria.
Cottage cheese is a good option, as it's soft but safe. You can also give your baby pasteurised, full-fat cheddar cheese, as long as it's cut into small strips or melted to avoid choking.
Avoid giving your baby unpasteurised or raw cheese, as it can cause foodborne illnesses, including salmonellosis and listeriosis.
