Anyone been to Greece (or on hol) while pregnant...

[jess3692]

Hi all,

I am off to Kefalonia in Greece end of August for a "babymoon" and I will be between 4 and 5 months pregnant. I am very excited although slightly sad that I can't eat feta or halloumi Is this a risk I can take? I've heard if its pasteurised then feta is fine, but I feel that it's a bit risky to take the chance abroad, even if the waiter confirms it is pasteurised. I mean, she/he could be lying!

Has anyone been abroad (particularly Greece) when pregnant and avoided feta etc.? Is there anything else I should be extra careful with when in another country? tips etc. would be fab!

Thanks guys!

[PresidentSpreadable]

Why are you avoiding feta or halloumi? I was on Paxos at 17 weeks and ate both. In fact I came back having gained half a stone I ate so much. It's fine.

The only thing I was a bit careful of was seafood.

[strongandlong]

We had our final pre-dc holiday in Corfu when I was around 6 months. It was lovely :)

AFAIK, it's mould-ripened cheeses and those made from unpasteurised milk that are a (small) risk.

Almost all feta and halloumi is made from pasteurised milk. Unless you're going somewhere that specifically boasts about traditional unpasteurised cheese, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Mostlyjustaluker]

What is a babymoon?

[kitkatkaty87]

great thread! im going to santorini on honeymoon in a month and was also wondering about the food.
what about tzatziki? is that ok?

[SeaSaltMill]

Just got back from Santorini. Everything will be pasteurised until you are buying from a small farm. It will be fine! Something to do with EU laws around food and food production.

Yoghurt and stuff will be fine too. Have fun!

[katandkits]

Halloumi is usually served cooked so no problems there. I am not sure about feta but I would eat it if it was me. There are very few things you need to avoid really.
I wouldn't go asking if everything is pasteurised. Assume it is if you are in a restaurant.

[twiglet2]

At 12 weeks we had a week in Sardinia, staying on a farm and eating in the farms beautiful tiny restaurant every evening. The produce was either home grown or came from the neighbouring farms and each night we had a four course set meal. I made a decision when we got there that I would eat what I was given - I felt that worrying about it was probably worse for the baby. Sadly I had to miss out on the carafe of lovely wine each evening, but the food was some of the best I've ever eaten, and I've had no problems since.

[weeblueberry]

I went to Majorca when I was 2 months pregnant and avoided soft cheeses too. And wine. And most cured meats because it was my first and I went totally over the top about what I would and wouldn't allow myself

The worst for me was being in the heat and trying to stay cool. But it was the last time my partner and I went away together just as a couple (probably for the next twenty years...) so it was absolutely lovely and relaxed.

[neversleepagain]

Greek women eat everything when pregnant. My (Greek who lives in Greece) sister looked at me like this when I told her there is a NHS list in Britain of what you can't eat when pregnant.

[petitverdot]

I went to Corfu at 24-26 weeks' pregnant and ate the hell out of feta and halloumi As well as tons of tzatziki and all sorts of other delicious things. I even had a couple of tiny glasses of local wine...

All was fine and the locals were totally enamoured with the bump - which was lovely if you don't mind that sort of thing!

[TwiggyHeart]

Holidays in both pregnancies, didn't avoid anything (apart from booze) just go and have a great time, holidays are never quite the same again!. I would just use a bit of common sense around how clean and modern places are before choosing to eat there.

[CityDweller]

I went to Greece when I was 10 weeks. I ate everything as I wasn't even aware any of the stuff you mention could be a problem. But I was quite cavalier about all those food restrictions as I think many of them are bollocks. I just judged any 'risk' for myself and ate accordingly.

(p.s. pregnancy resulted in healthy baby who is now a raucous 15-month-old running around, showing no signs of ill-effects due to my lack of caution or failure to avoid chorizo or runny eggs, etc)

[Annbag]

I went a few months ago at about 20 weeks and ate everything! Its up to you but if you're staying at a decent hotel the food should be fine.

It's up to you what you think is the level of risk you are comfortable with, but most countries don't have these food rules in pregnancy, which makes me wonder! I decided the risks were small as most cheese is pasteurised these days.

[jess3692]

Thanks so much for your messages! I am a bit confused on the whole cheese side of things but it's reassuring and wonderful to hear that others have indulged in feta so I certainly will! I have also heard that other countries find it amusing how many rules we have on what we can and can't eat throughout pregnancy!

Bring on the feta!

[broodysnoopstie]

I've just come back from kefalonia I was there when I was 10-12weeeks.. I ate feta, I've been for my scan and all was well with my bubba. I'm 14 weeks tomorrow.

[squizita]

Jess we actually have fewer rules than many because our food safety 'baseline' in shops is pretty high, we're a cool country, you can drink the tap water etc'.
In parts of the med salad, raw veg, deli items etc' are no-no for various reasons.
Mind you their idea about how hot a baby can safely get is much more lax than ours! They'll wrap them up loads.

[jess3692]

Thanks squizita, that's a really helpful response!

[MrsPatMustard]

I ate feta all the way through our Greek holiday (also in Kefalonia.) Was 17 weeks pregnant at the time. The only thing I steered clear of was shellfish. Pretty certain Greek feta is pasteurised...