Are unpasteurised cheeses safe to eat if cooked?

[JasmineBloom]

My husband made pizzas tonight and used raclette cheese on top. The packet said it was unpasteurised but I’m assuming it’s fine for me to eat when it was heated in the oven?

I think yes if it’s cooked and steaming all the way through

@mayflowers9 thank you! I thought that was probably the case but just wanted to be sure.

If from a reputable supplier, stored in a fridge and in date, the risk is small. Even for pregnant women, children, elderly and immunocompromised people.

Heating until piping hot should kill harmful bacteria and make the cheese even safer to eat.

@AnteatersAreCute thank you. Yes it was cooked until piping hot so would imagine that makes it safe for me to eat.

If heated above 72 celcius that is equivalent to pasteurisation, not sure it would get that hot in the oven 🤷
But if you've already eaten it don't stress, if you become unwell let midwife/Dr know you've eaten high risk food

The pizza would barely be warm at 72 c let alone cooked!!

@Smallwins hi, yes it was well above 72C, I think about 200 C so hopefully that means any bacteria would have been killed at that temperature.

Just to reassure you further, my family members who birthed their children in France told me that pregnant women were not instructed to avoid unpasteurised cheeses. They ate normally throughout their pregnancies. My nephews and nieces are no longer babies and are healthy and well!

yes if the cheese was melty then it would have been above the cooking temperature needed.

also works for baked camembert, what with christmas coming up! Raclette on pizza is amazing though isnt it?!