Queso Fresco *Small Update*

ke19

Ok, I need someone to talk me down from my current freak out! I went to a work lunch today with 2 of my clients, and we went to a mexican restaurant. I ordered a veggie burrito and when it came, it was covered with queso fresco. I didn't want to see like a weirdo in front of my clients and send it back (and it was the first time I was meeting one of them) so I just tried to pick off as much as I could, but I definitely ate a fair amount of it. Luckily it was huge, so I just ate half and then boxed the rest up (for my DH to eat tonight for dinner).

But of course, now I'm freaking out about having eaten it. I know it's at the very top of all the do no eat lists due to the pasteurization/listeria thing. We were at a good restaurant, not like a taco truck on the side of the road, so what do you think the chances that the cheese was pasteurized are? I feel really nervous/guilty/horrible that I ate it - I should have just sucked it up and sent it back. And before anyone says anything about "everything is fine in moderation" - listeria is not one of those things. You can get it from eating it one time...that's why I'm so freaked out I think. Thoughts? 

Edit - so after getting home, I have since had diarrhea (sorry, TMI). I'm feeling better about the pasteurized thing so thank you for calming me down ladies. But the whole getting sick thing is now making me worry again! It was definitely from the food, but obviously not listeria that quickly. I guess my body or the baby did not like that burrito!!!

 

FyreFlyeRush

Look at it like this: What do you think pregnant women in Mexico and Greece (feta) do?  Queso fresco served from a restuarant should be pastuerized. You'll be fine.

cwie828

Honestly, I feel like if it is sold in this country, it is pasteurized. I would have been the same way as you and would not have wanted to create a scene and send it back. Anyway, if this was a good restaurant, they could not get away with serving unpasteurized cheese anyway. I have seen queso fresco in the grocery store and it has been pasteurized. I think you're just fine!!!

rapaulson

Why don't you just call the restaurant and ask if it was pasteurized? I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you.  I have yet to look at a cheese in the grocery store and find it not pasteurized (including goat cheese, feta etc.)

iLoveblueberries

I don't think you have one thing to worry about!

These days you have a better chance of getting listeria from spinach or a cantelope or something than cheese it seems like!

My guess is that it is pasturized....I have never heard of a resturaunt that seved unpasturized foods.

blueshamrock7

Not only am I 99% sure it is pasturized, but they also cook the crap out of that - isn't it hot? That means the chance of listeria is gone. So I wouldn't worry about it at all. Just don't eat it that way again, if you would worry any way :-)

kmc1109

ke19:

Edit - so after getting home, I have since had diarrhea (sorry, TMI). I'm feeling better about the pasteurized thing so thank you for calming me down ladies. But the whole getting sick thing is now making me worry again! It was definitely from the food, but obviously not listeria that quickly. I guess my body or the baby did not like that burrito!!!

 

I guarantee that this was from the cheese/Mexican food/beans! At least that's how I'd be!

I am 99.9% sure that it was pasteurized! I had goat cheese in a salad at a restaruant the other day, that's at the top of the no-no list too and the waiter looked at me like I was crazy when I asked if it were pasteurized.

You're fine, stop stressing! 

marielovestimothy03

You're stressing WAY too much about this. The VAST majority of cheese sold in the US (particularly in restaurants) is pasteurized and perfectly safe for consumption.

Roxywhit86

As others have said, if it is sold in the United States....99.999999% chances are it is pasteurized. I still eat Mexican food WITH cheese and I don't feel bad about it at all. You would have to go to a very specialty cheese shop to find raw milk cheese which is not pasteurized.