Goats cheese worry - listeria

[SB1712]

Hi

I am almost 23 weeks and was out for some food with friends a week ago and we ordered some goats cheese. After a quick google at a glance I saw that it said it is generally considered safe so I ate some, maybe half of the slice which was 1-2cm thick.
It came cooked in honey and have since gone back and read on the menu and it says ‘pan fried’ and it was definitely warm but was harder towards the middle.

I am now really worrying about listeria. I am not from Ireland but understand at the moment they are having a huge listeria outbreak with pre packaged food and doing more reading about it I had no idea it can take up to 2 months to present symptoms so I’m really worried.

Can anyone offer any advice or has anyone eaten goats cheese during pg and been okay? I know in general it is very rare but feel like I am seeing it on SM so much right now.

It should be ok as it had been heated.
Was it cheese with a rind? Do you know if it was pasteurised?

I'm not a doctor but pretty sure you'll be absolutely fine. I remember constantly being on google about things like this so I get the worry.
ETA the fact it was heated would be good.

@dementedpixie yes it had a rind and I don’t know if it was pasteurised as I didn’t ask, but now feeling like why did I even risk that. I just didn’t read google enough to see that there was a difference depending on what type of goats cheese.

@Marlena1 this is my second and I was much worse with my first. Generally know the foods I have to avoid and have safely been doing that but now feel like I’m having a panic especially as the incubation period is so long.

The Ireland outbreak seems to be connected with bagged salad and not cheese.

Not all goats’ cheese is a listeria risk, and cooking is likely to kill any pathogens on the outside. I think the risk from eating one dish with suspect cheese is very minimal.

The thing with risk is that we are sensitised to particular risks because of legitimate public health education campaigns. It’s so much more dangerous to get in a car and travel to the restaurant than eat a restaurant meal.

I ate a goats cheese salad when I was pregnant in the earlier days, probably about 14weeks or so, and then realized afterwards the risks. I just didn’t think at the time of eating it & I felt awful guilt 😞 It had taken us so long to get pregnant (IVF) and I was terrified that I had ruined our unborn baby. That little baby is now in my arms, and is as healthy as can be! Please don’t panic/worry, everything will be fine. It was a very small amount of goats cheese, the chances are slim to none. And try to give yourself some grace… those pregnancy hormones are brutal, and you’re doing an amazing job looking after yourself and your baby. You’ve got this! 💓

Try not to worry as the risk of listeria from any type of cheese that has been stored properly in very low.

Goats cheese is currently my obsession. I'm probably eating a whole pack every 2 days 🙃 (25 weeks)

Most goats cheese is made with pasturised milk.
Also more likely that it would state the fact that its unpasteurised than if it was.
I'd happily eat a small amount of unpasteurised and enjoy it, as like others have said, you're more likely to get something from poorly prepared baged salad, or even just walking down the street, than a few bites of warmed cheese.
Hope that helps ease the anxiety!

Thanks all, it has helped a bit. Now looking at my bagged iceberg lettuce thinking I should avoid!
I’ll give it a good wash beforehand and be more careful with the goats cheese in future. Hopefully it’s nothing but thanks for your reassurance x

Thanks all, it has helped a bit. Now looking at my bagged iceberg lettuce thinking I should avoid!
I’ll give it a good wash beforehand and be more careful with the goats cheese in future. Hopefully it’s nothing but thanks for your reassurance x