"Soft Cheeses"

AorL

Stupid question alert -

What exaclty does this entail?  Is cream cheese a "soft cheese?"

ams8099

No, it's kind of deceiving. You want to avoid any cheeses that are not pasteurized. Most cheesed in the US are pasteurized. Check the labels and it will tell you if it has been pasteurized or not. Cheese to watch for are brie, feta, blue, etc. 

TwoThurstons

Just wanted to add to previous poster, that most brie, feta, blue, gorgonzola you buy packaged at the grocery store are pasteurized, but yes, do check the labels before eating or buying.

rowanthefrog

TwoThurstons:

Just wanted to add to previous poster, that most brie, feta, blue, gorgonzola you buy packaged at the grocery store are pasteurized, but yes, do check the labels before eating or buying.

 

Yes - this.  The most likely time you will see an unpasteurized cheese would be at a nicer restaurant or if you eat cheese from a farmer's market or something like that.  If you order a salad with bleu cheese, just ask the waiter if its pasteurized or not.

A 

RunningGal900

Like the PP said, most cheeses in the US are pasteurized. Read labels and if it says made with Raw Milk - don't eat it. That doesn't just apply to soft cheese. I was at Whole Foods the other day and happened to see that some hard cheese was made with Raw Milk. a lot of their cheeses seemed to be made with Raw Milk. But at another chain, you will likely see Pasteurized cheeses. When you dine out, you will have to ask.

SC1977

RunningGal900:

Like the PP said, most cheeses in the US are pasteurized. Read labels and if it says made with Raw Milk - don't eat it. That doesn't just apply to soft cheese. I was at Whole Foods the other day and happened to see that some hard cheese was made with Raw Milk. a lot of their cheeses seemed to be made with Raw Milk. But at another chain, you will likely see Pasteurized cheeses. When you dine out, you will have to ask.

That's a very good PSA. I just realized that I've been eating unpasteurized cheddar all week.  I've been buying it from the farmer's market this summer and didn't think twice about it this week. Especially since it's a hard cheese. I had a big chunk of it in my mouth when I noticed on the label it said it was made with unpasteurized milk. I spit it out, but I had already eaten a bunch of it today.  Hopefully the Amish folks keep their milk listeria free.

SC1977

SC1977:

RunningGal900:

Like the PP said, most cheeses in the US are pasteurized. Read labels and if it says made with Raw Milk - don't eat it. That doesn't just apply to soft cheese. I was at Whole Foods the other day and happened to see that some hard cheese was made with Raw Milk. a lot of their cheeses seemed to be made with Raw Milk. But at another chain, you will likely see Pasteurized cheeses. When you dine out, you will have to ask.

That's a very good PSA. I just realized that I've been eating unpasteurized cheddar all week.  I've been buying it from the farmer's market this summer and didn't think twice about it this week. Especially since it's a hard cheese. I had a big chunk of it in my mouth when I noticed on the label it said it was made with unpasteurized milk. I spit it out, but I had already eaten a bunch of it today.  Hopefully the Amish folks keep their milk listeria free.

https://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm079516.htm

Actually, unpasteurized hard cheeses may be ok. I won't eat anymore, just in case. But at least now I can sleep well tonight.