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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

should I eat the cheese?

14 replies

BeautifulBlondePineapple · 02/02/2011 11:21

I love cheese. So does DH. At the weekend, we had folks for dinner and DH bought some lovely camembert and some gorgonzola (he also bought some hard goat cheese for me which was very tasty).

However, although he and all the friends guzzled quite a lot of the other cheese, there is some left.

3 days later, none of them have contracted Listera. Would any of you risk eating the remaining camembert and gorgonzola? I am salivating over it!!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Fantail · 02/02/2011 11:23

I would add the gorgonzola to a cheesy pasta sauce and use the camembert on a pizza with some cranberry sauce and chicken.

RealityIsKnockedUp · 02/02/2011 11:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

trixie123 · 02/02/2011 11:25

eat it. I have posted on this so many times. the risks are tiny and as you say, its been "tested" by your family. Enjoy it.

midori1999 · 02/02/2011 11:29

Pregnant women are something like 20 times more likely to get listeria, so the fact everyone else that ate it is OK doesn't mean very much. The risk of getting listeria is tiny, but if you get it, the consequences can be dire.

Someone recently posted on a similar thread on another forum I use that a friend of theirs had a stillborn baby, no obvious reason, she hadn't been ill at all. The post mortem showed she had had listeria and it had affected the baby.

Obviously it's up to you, but for me, no matter how small the risk, it's just not worth it. You can safely eat the cheese if you heat it thoroughly all the way through.

theonlyhb2 · 02/02/2011 11:30

they dont stop eating these cheese in france/greece or the like do they? eat it! I am going to have to eat brie soon, the baby needs it, my body needs it!

Original poster

BeautifulBlondePineapple · 02/02/2011 11:59

Thanks ladies! I have consulted my conscience and know what I am going to do.

As suggested by Fantail (thanks!) I am going to cook them first.

4 cheese pasta for lunch it is! Mmmmmm.....

OP posts:

Scruffyhound · 02/02/2011 12:26

Please cook the cheese and make sure its at a high temp but really avoid it! I used to work in food microbiology and have worked in microbiology for 15 yrs now. I can tell you now you dont want Listeria. Im 31 weeks pregnant I would not touch soft chesses like this and also just because you family did not get it means nothing. Please take caution as Listeria which are gram positive rods can work their way through the placenta. Also the Listeria could of lay a low counts and your family is not pregnant which means your immune system is lower than theirs you also have left it for another 3 days if contaminated will breed they like it 37 degrees cel but will still breed in your fridge just slower (4 degrees cel). Not trying to scare you just be careful! Cant you substitute it for something that is hard cheese or pasteurized?

TransatlanticCityGirl · 02/02/2011 21:54

Here is what I don't understand... If the risk of getting listeria is tiny, why do some women avoid blue cheeses like the plague yet are perfectly content to engage in everyday risky activities like getting in a car, for example? Where do you draw the line?

lolajane2009 · 02/02/2011 22:06

to get where I want I need to walk or get into a car imo, you don't have to eat the cheese. I draw the line where I can choose. personally I am hesistant to do much to put my child at risk, like foods with higher risks of food poisoning.

gastrognome · 03/02/2011 06:12

Theonlyhb2, yes French women are advised to avoid these cheeses if they are pregnant.

Incidentally, a (French) relative of my husband's did contract listeria when pregnant due to eating cheese. She became extremely ill and went into premature labour as a result (baby was also very ill but fortunately survived).

OP, am glad you have decided to err on the side of caution!

Scruffyhound · 03/02/2011 08:58

I cant belive women are prepared to risk their child for cheese?! And using a car is something that is done everyday and is needed. You dont need to eat cheese! Its not like you cant have any just eat a different one. Why even risk the baby getting something wrong is it not better to eliminate thses issues rather than taking a gamble? Also the chances of getting Listera is low fine but what if your in that small percentage that do get it?

MainlyMaynie · 03/02/2011 09:11

I think people's attitude to risk in pregnancy varies hugely. IMO people who have never suffered fertility issues or miscarriage are much more blase about things. Having suffered both, if there is a risk to the baby I can reduce I will reduce it. I certainly wouldn't eat cheese against medical advice based on suggestions on the internet that it's alright in France (it's not, their advice is actually stricter than ours). But if you've never had any problems and you see some statistics on listeria infection in isolation, I can understand why your perception is that the risk is minimal.

FeralGirlCambs · 03/02/2011 09:17

Sorry Scruffyhound but I do think people need to consult their own risk assessments without being shouted down and having emotive language about being prepared to risk their baby etc used. It's not very helpful and can sound very 'personal'. I thought your first posting was very reasonable and useful as you obviously have specialised knowledge to contribute, whereas the second crossed the line to rant a bit - it's really helpful having MN as a forum to ask questions and if one is scared of being berated that helpfulness is undermined.

Sorry, I think I'm a bit grumpy this morning. Milkman failed to deliver; have swollen fingers (why?!) etc etc. But I do think we have to respect each other's decisions, especially where the risks are tiny, albeit avoidable. Risk, choice and blame are such emotive areas.

Scruffyhound · 03/02/2011 20:14

Ok maybe you think Im being mean? Im trying to say that there are other cheeses to eat its not like this lady is taking drugs or drinking to excess I get that point totally. But I still dont understand that even with a small risk that for the sake of a bit of food people would risk it? Maybe I am mean and maybe I cant help my opinion but the lady did want one and yes it did sound a bit harsh when I read it back. So I apologise for that. But if any of you worked in that environment and saw what the bacteria/pathogens can do maybe you would think twice? I could of eaten my veg pasta thing tonight and get food poisoning from that but what Im trying to say is that why would I put something in it that I knew might (even a low risk) contain a bacteria that could harm my self and the baby thats my point? Not sure how I could put that any better and not meaning to sound mean?

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