f/u to blue cheese question

EmandChris08

I asked the doctor today about soft cheeses and he said to avoid blue, feta, brie, and camembert all together. I told him that I'd heard pasteurized was okay and he said no-- you should avoid them whether pasteurized or not... unless they are cooked in something and heated to steaming to kill any bacteria.

Anyone else's doctor say this? Are you taking this advice, or eating pasteurized soft cheeses anyway? I love feta and blue cheese, so I will obviously give them up if I have to, but I'd rather not...  

kilissa

Personally, I would follow my doctor's advice.  

Kingsley420

I asked my Dr the same thing and I told her that I LOVED Feta! She told me that there are a few pasteurized brands that I would be able to eat...every Dr is different tho so i dunno..up to you at this point. Good luck and Congrats!

TheCricket

I am of the mindset that I can hold off 7 more months for most things that I might like, but really don't have to have. Not that I really think that one salad with bleu cheese crumbles will do anything, but after trying for so long to get pregnant, I want to completely eliminate anythng that could possibly be on the taboo list. There are so many other things that I like (perhaps too many), so it's really NBD.

On the other hand, if these things were SO bad, France would have zero population growth.

LucyGoosey81

Listen to your doctor, then.

Mine said it was cool to eat it...most cheese in the US is pasteurized and that's enough for them.

Scout05

You have to do whatever you personally feel comfortable with. If it's going to really worry you, it's certainly not worth it.

MrsManning10

EmandChris08:

you should avoid them whether pasteurized or not... unless they are cooked in something and heated to steaming to kill any bacteria.

I'm definitely not saying to go against your doctor's orders, but I think that the whole process of pasteurization is heating something to kill bacteria.  That is the point of it.  So, I guess that response just kind of confuses me... 

Scout05

*Abby*:

EmandChris08:

you should avoid them whether pasteurized or not... unless they are cooked in something and heated to steaming to kill any bacteria.

I'm definitely not saying to go against your doctor's orders, but I think that the whole process of pasteurization is heating something to kill bacteria.  That is the point of it.  So, I guess that response just kind of confuses me... 

I do have to agree with this. He is also the first doctor I've heard say this.

But again, it has to be something you are comfortable with.

EmandChris08

I've been doing more research, and here's what I found. Apparently, "pasteurized" cheese just means that the cheese was made with pasteurized milk. Although this does eliminate some of the risk, the bacteria can still grow on the cheese during other stages of the process. Since soft cheeses are moist and low in acid, it creates the perfect environment for listeria to grow. So just like with deli meats, the only way to be sure the cheese is bacteria free is to heat it yourself.

Like others have said, it's always our choice whether we want to continue eating cold cuts, soft cheese, etc. knowing what the risks are. Obviously may desire to have a healthy baby outweighs my desire to eat feta for the next 7 months, but I just like to know why I'm being told to avoid something. And, I just really like cheese. :-) But now that I understand the reasons better, I think I'll avoid feta and blue cheese unless it's cooked in something. 

Molluskwrangler

My dr really wasn't against me eating any foods, she was more against meds and chemicals in certain products and well the normal no, nos like booze.

She was fine with sushi, runny eggs, cheese, lunch meat, soft serve...she laughed when I asked her if I should avoid soft serve.

Do what you are comfortable with though.

Green*Flamingo

Direct from the CDC's website: Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk and foods made from it. Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, brie, and queso fresco unless they have labels that say they are pasteurized. Unpasteurized products can contain harmful bacteria.

Green*Flamingo

A direct quote from the FDA's website, on community education for pregant women:

You can play a critical role in preventing the listeriosis disease in your community. This foodborne illness is caused by Listeria bacteria, and eating foods that contain this bacteria can lead to serious illness ? and even death. The youngest victim of listeriosis is the unborn baby ? who can become infected even though the mother doesn't feel sick! The message for pregnant women is simple: never eat dairy products made with unpasteurized milk. Pregnant women should only eat cheese that is labeled ?made from pasteurized milk? and purchased in stores.

Scout05

Green Flamingo - I think the issue the OP is having is that her doc told her not to eat these cheeses even IF they were pasturized.

EmandChris08

ambrandau2:

Green Flamingo - I think the issue the OP is having is that her doc told her not to eat these cheeses even IF they were pasturized.

Right. I've seen the stuff from the CDC and FDA saying that pasteurized was OK--- that's why I was a little surprised that the Dr. advised me not to eat any soft cheeses, whether pasteurized or not. 

Green*Flamingo

Sorry about the crazy text size and font, I just copied and pasted it.

I posted that info because that is the same information that a physician should provide his/her patients. Healthcare practioners are not infallable, and they occasionally screw things up; IMO the OP's doc fits in this category. But that is just my opinion.

As another poster said, you have to do what you are comfortable with.