Is it ok to eat baked camembert?

[BrownPaperandString]

The sort in a box that you dip lovely bread in to??

I don't think so. I did read in one book that very well cooked cheeses (e.g. in a sauce) were okay, but the NHS advice is to just avoid them.

I was told no as with brie on a pizza

I wouldn't.

yes! So long as it's cooked right through.

From the Food Standards Agency site:

"Can I eat brie and blue cheese when I'm pregnant if it's cooked?

Pregnant women are advised against eating these types of cheese because of the risk of listeria. However, thorough cooking should kill any listeria, so it should be safe to eat food containing, these and other cheeses such as Camembert or chevre (a type of goats' cheese), that have a similar rind, provided it has been properly cooked and is steaming hot all the way through."

I really fancy it now you've mentioned it

Did you know that there has been not a single case of illness from listeria in cheese in this country for over 20 years?

I ate it. I figured that 20mins in a 180C oven was going to kill pretty much most baddies. I was also happy with the source of the cheese.

ooo yummmmmy I so want some now with warm bread! lol

I would, and have, and do!

Yummy!!!!

Thanks everyone and very interesting that there haven't been any listeria cases in the past 20 years - that says everything really doesn't it??

Just went to put some on my ocado shop and I saw this stuff - Paysan Breton Baking Camembert - which happens to be pasteurised anyway, so those of you who are worried about it can eat it without worrying any more!

Actually it would seem there are many cases of listeria poisoning every month...see here www.cdc.gov/EID/content/15/3/465.htm

Sorry HERE

From the Food Standards Agency -
"Overall, each year about 850,000 people in the UK become ill from food poisoning. Of these, an estimated 500 die ? a third of those deaths are from listeriosis."

Oh and BrownPaper, pasteurising does not make a mould ripened cheese safer. It may in fact make it more prone to listeria growth as it's natural "good" bacteria will have been killed off.

Lady - I saw that but that's not what BrownPaper said, so I was just clarifying.

How do you know where you got your food poisoning anyway?? How can you tell?
Obviously if you die they do a post-mortum, but otherwise????

All these stats are very well, but how many of those contracting listeria were say, elderly or had other complications. I know us pregnant ladies have a lower immune system but there are grades of reduced immmunity. If you've got other issues already or have a sensitive stomach to begin with, then definitely stay away from it.

One of the sites I looked at said you are 20 times more likely to get listeriosis if you are pregnant.
I would still eat baked cheese though, so long as it's really hot.

darn it - I was in the pub yesterday for lunch and decided against the baked Brie. Now I know that I could have had it .... grrrr.

ow I'm confused - I thought we had to stay away from uncooked unpastuerised cheese?

'My new camembert' is pasteurised and will have been baked so surely that's good enough?

what's confusing? As per the bit from the FSA site I quoted, so long as it's cooked (baked) right through, your camembert will be safe to eat. The pasteurised thing is a red herring as Bubbaluv says.

I'm sure I read somewhere that the last large outbreak was caused by butter.

Oh bugger I really want some now!
See what you've done BrownPaperandString!!!