ARGGG - just had a small amount of Brie - it was pasteurized so I thought it was OK, but it turns out its not

[AnguaVonUberwald]

What are the chances of it harming the baby?

18 weeks pregnant, and it was a small bit, smaller than my thumb!

Please advise

I think the risk is in case it makes the mother ill, rather than 'direct' harm to the baby. Same with seafood. Certain foods carry higher than normal risks of giving you some sort of food poisoning, and very bad cases of fod poisoning can harm baby as the mum is so ill.

you'll be fine.

very slight risk. smaller than the size of your thumbnail.

I really don't think you need to worry. So far as I am aware the numbers of people actually affected by eating any of the banned substances are tiny. I work in the NHS (not clinical) and when I was pregnant I accidentally ate a blue cheese pizza (thinking it was cheddar!). I realised half way through and had a panic but all my dr and nurses thought it was hilarious, told me to finish it!

What I meant to say was all that stuff about food poisoning followed by a reassuring statement that you would be fine, as would the baby, as the chances are miniscule ... obviously...

I'm a food microbiologist there is a very very very very very small risk probably >0.01%

You will be fine don't stress

Theres probably more risk of Listeria from an apple than the cheese.

(Apple natural product unwashed or rinsed under tap, cheese known risk from Listeria so process controlled and thoroughly tested)

Please do not worry!

OK, thank you very much everyone, we have had a hard time with this pregnancy (cramping, spotting etc) so I just got a bit stressed thinking I was adding to the problems!

Pasteurised Brie is soo processed that it would be a bleedin miracle if there was anything harmful in it. Tbh you are probably doing more harm by worrying about it

if you haven't got listeria (food poisoning, you'd notice!!) then you have nothing to worry about. That's the reason we're supposed to avoid it, so if you're well then your baby is fine so easy to panic though innit??

your baby will be fine dear, dont worry!

Try not to worry. Easier said than done, I know. I've been there myself!

The chances of there being a problem are absolutely minute - honestly.

I had several accidental consumptions of 'forbidden' food.

Remember that our parents scoffed there way through stinky cheeses, liver, peanut butter, booze etc while pregnant, and there are very few tales of awful outcomes.

pasteurised brie is fine isn't it?? Thats what i was told by mw.

Don't worry I've been merily eating feta cheese without realising I shouldn't and i came very close to ordering pate at a restaurant last week ( I love pate!) but it was only because dh looked so horrified that i didn't. Didn't stop him ordering it though and I had to look at it like a salivating dog

The only risk is if you do catch Listeria from eating it.

Have you ever known anyone who has developed Listeria (severe food poisoning - you'll know you've got it, I think, and not any old food poisoning,m this very specific kind) fropm eating a tiny bit of brie?

Of course you haven't.

And even if you did catch listeria, damage to the baby would still be a 'risk' (not sure how slight) rather than definite.

Worrying is more likley to harm you and your baby thatn the Brie!!!

pretend you are in France where they do not bother

Please don't worry. The guides or what not to eat, which English ladies are told, are not followed in many other countries.

Message withdrawn

there is no problem with pasteurised cheese surely? btw they don't call it "listeria-hysteria" for nothing.

Thank you so much everybody, so reasurring. Really, really appreciate it! It was just on top of everything else thats been happening, to realise I might have added to it myself!!