I just ate Camembert!

[MumMumMum1]

I’m 20 weeks pregnant. I didn’t even think... & ate loads! remembered after I’d eaten it & googled the seriousness if caught whilst pregnant & now I feel sick. Please tell me it’s unlikely? I feel awful.

Thanks @timetostepup! It was the french one you posted so great to know it was pasteurised as well as cooked. I feel better. It was great! Not worth the hassle though 😂, I understand some things can be a bit OTT so hopefully (I’m sure) all will be well. Thanks everyone..

Definitely just default to checking NHS- even the first midwife I saw told me something I couldn't eat that, when I double checked it, wasn't up to date NHS guidance (which was good because it was something I wanted to eat and the NHS website said I could!!). I work with a French lady and she also said she can't believe what restrictions we have here, it's interesting to compare.

@Heyha What was it?!

You'll be fine. I ate Camembert and ice cream from McDonald's all the time!

I’ve eaten cooked Camembert loads and been to Paris a few times for work where I’ve eaten Brie (I figured it was better than a glass of wine!) They have different foods to avoid in France which is interesting, women don’t eat salad unless they have washed it themselves. I was also in Barcelona when I was 12 weeks pregnant and ate a ton of shellfish. I haven’t been unwell once during the pregnancy but obviously understand my relaxed attitude is not for all!

Cooked is absolutely fine.

According to US data, your risk of catching listeria is increased 18-fold when pregnant: BUT that still only leaves you with a 1 in 8,000 risk. So the guidelines say your risk is massively increased which it is but we're still dealing with tiny tiny chances.

drjengunter.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/listeria-and-pregnancy-when-discussing-risk-its-all-perspective/

The other thing to bear in mind is that the biggest listeria outbreaks in recent years haven't been from cheese but from fresh produce: I think watermelons were one.

Different strokes for different folks of course, but having read all that after feeling guilty about a camembert toastie I felt much more relaxed. I'm not going out of my way to eat raw soft cheese by any means, but I'm very happy having it cooked (and plan to wash watermelons carefully!!).

@christinamarlowe it was a no to cold, cooked prawns! Really wanted prawn cocktail so checked NHS and all fine (just don't eat them raw, to which I can't think of anything worse anyway!). Obviously still didn't chance a roadside wagon jacket potato with prawns at the end of a warm day 😂

@Heyha I definitely get why you wouldn't have the roadside jacket - don't know if would even if I wasn't pregnant, bit risky! - but the midwife said not to eat them at all, like from Sainsburys or wherever cooked and chilled? Or just from elsewhere? Don't know if I'm understanding that correctly. I'm paranoid now! Although I had them (supermarket cooked chilled/supermarket cooked frozen) when I was having DC1 and she's a crazy, healthy and happy 6 year old.

I'm just excited to have a cooked camembert now after reading about that this morning, I thought it was a no-go even heated through. Tempted to text DH at work (Chef) and ask him to bring me one home to bake!! 😂

Oh, this old chestnut. French government guidance is almost exactly the same as the U.K. WRT cheese. In some cases it’s actually more restrictive - they are advised to limit consumption of soya, for example. Weirdly, pre-grated cheese is also advised against.

inpes.santepubliquefrance.fr/CFESBases/catalogue/pdf/1059.pdf

Don't worry @christinamarlowe the NHS website specifically says cold cooked prawns are fine 😀 I just made sure I bought frozen cooked ones and defrosted them sensibly before eating straight away.

Thanks @Heya, they change these things so much that even when you know you know, you don't really know! I blame baby brain. Thanks for your reply. I shall continue to munch the cooked frozen/chilled ones 🙂

Its fine. When I was pregnant with dd the list of forbidden foods was my diet i ate everything on that list occasionally throughout my pregnancy bar alcohol without issues

Morning, I've just done the same last night and to be honest I wasn't worried until bedtime when my boyfriend googled it and now we are both a bit worried. Hope everything went when for you eventually? I'm sure we will be fine we followed the cooking instructions and it was melted x

@Sarahsupasaint Cooked Camembert is fine. You have nothing to worry about.

Thank you @thanksItHasPockets xx

Omg I gorged myself on M&S baked Camembert the other day and it was DELICIOUS. Literally would eat it every day but it was probably 2000 calories, I barely left any for hubby. Cooked thoroughly pretty much anything is fine, wouldn't eat it raw though as it's mold ripened.
In other news, I saw Asda has it's Christmas stuff out and they have a mini baking camembert which may help with overindulgence (if you have no self control like me).

This thread has made me really want Camembert now 🤤🤤.