Soft cheeses

I keep reading posts about people wanting to eat soft cheeses and not being able to because they are pregnant. I thought I'd share what I found the other day on theNZ Food Safety Authority website. I'm sure they've changed their advice on this since last time I was pregnant.

NZFSA wrote: Soft, pasteurised cheeses (including brie, camembert, blue, ricotta, mozzarella and feta) should generally not be eaten uncooked while you are pregnant. However, if these products are purchased in the manufacturer’s original packaging, they can be eaten in small quantities immediately after opening. Do not reseal cheeses and eat them later, and do not eat if they have been repackaged in a deli or supermarket as they may become contaminated with pathogens.

So soft cheeses are ok as long as you've just opened it, from its original packaging

The only time I've eaten camembert has been on pizza. My MW advised me not to eat it fresh and that's what I've gone with. Cooked is ok.

I think also these cheeses are best eaten at room temperature which is a perfect environment for listeria to grow in.

Thank you for that. I am going to get some feta today. I am feeling quite excited!

C&J, see I was told by my MW that any cold meat is a no no, even vacuum packed ones.

I was super anal first pregnancy as well, and not so much with my second. I ate the ham at xmas as it was preped and cooked by my nana. I ate it cold.

Yep I agree blondy! I ate it when pregs with Bella Just when I was first pregnant(baby I m/c'd in july 07) my MW told me no to any cold meat, being a first timer, I went with what she said.

That pizza sounds so yum C&J!!

I would avoid cheese under most circumstances (if you're having a pizza or toasted panini and you're heating it OVER 75c it should be safe)

Soft cheeses such as camembert/brie are "ripened" by leaving to grow mold at room temperature for 10+ days (typically 4-5 weeks) before they are chilled and sold. Besides that the process involves heating the milk to a lukewarm temp - about 40 degrees i think, just over blood temp - which doesnt kill any bacteria, but provides them the perfect environment to live in! Made commercially, the mold is sampled and tested before being released for sale and any/all dairy products inside are pasterised of course, and the mold is typically a form of penicillin.

Hard cheeses (Chedder etc) are better.

Ive been a chef for over 5 years now, and would eat most things - i wouldnt eat deli ham for example, as you don't know who has cut it, when it was cut, how it was chilled etc. I WOULD say that cooking a ham at home, chilling it safely, and using it within 2 days (assuming its stored properly) is no danger.


Sorry, a bit of a rant - i am getting sick of people judgin me for eating 'bad things' during my pregnancy - for example i had smoked salmon the other day and almost had a fight over it. What the woman didnt know is i gutted, salted, smoked the damn thing myself.

My pet hate. Sorry for the long post

Lol Maebee don't worry, it really annoys me when people tell me what to eat too. Actually, people give you all sorts of unwanted advice when you're pregnant.
Yum, I bet your smoked salmon was delicious!

I'm definitely more relaxed about things this time. But last time I still ate cheeses (the advice I posted above is exactly what my midwife told me last time anyway), and if I cooked meat myself I would eat it cold the next day.

C&J - that's what I told myself last time, and then ended up being on a dairy, egg and peanut-free diet for about 8 months while BFing

I have had KFC over the last 8 month, naughty naughty.