Pregnancy and soft cheese

[shoyski]

Here's one that's been puzzling me...I read that one is not supposed to eat soft cheese while pregnant (ie: brie, feta, etc). This is due to the bacteria listeria.

I know one can eat cottage cheese because it's processed but wondered about "fresh" mozzarella. Thanks

[BosunsWife]

Unless it says pasteurized someplace on the package, I wouldn't risk it. My doctor told me as long as the package said it had been pasteurized it was alright to eat it. I love feta cheese and craved it while preggers so that was one of my first questions for him.

[MrsReber]

I have a love affair with cheese. I have given up the brie. I read that it was okay to stick with the harder cheeses. I have to admit that I have not given up my blue cheese dressing! It's such a small amount. I guess the risk is there, but it seems to be a very small risk. I haven't had any problems at all. I even ate brie before I heard about listeria. There are so many things to avoid and watch out for, I think sometimes they give us too much information and we become overly cautious. Also, different books and different doctors give us different information. Very confusing. You could go crazy!

[SusanD]

I agree with Susan - there's so much mixed information out there, it's hard to know what to believe! I think you have to take what the books say with a grain of salt, especially because they each say something different. If I have any questions or doubts, I'll check with my doctor first. I had heard the thing about the cheese, also no sausage or bacon because of nitrates. The most bizarre thing, though, was a friend of mine read in some book (I never saw it) that you're not supposed to use any household cleaning products (i.e. Windex) or even be in the same room when they're being used! My doctor laughed when I asked her about it - she said she'd never heard that one before. She basically said to just use common sense and not overindulge in anything (she said..."you shouldn't be eating brie or sausage every day anyway!").

[MrsReber]

Hmm, what book was that information in about the household cleaners? I may want to show that to my husband http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif!!