Soft cheeses
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35590
Printed Date: 27 August 2025 at 3:35am
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Topic: Soft cheeses
Posted By: AuntieSarah
Subject: Soft cheeses
Date Posted: 04 September 2010 at 7:50pm
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 the http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consumers/low-immunity-child-pregnancy/pregnancy-food-safety/ - NZ Food Safety Authority website. I'm sure they've changed their advice on this since last time I was pregnant.
So soft cheeses are ok as long as you've just opened it, from its original packaging 
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NZFSA wrote:Replies:
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 04 September 2010 at 9:58pm
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I ate it when pregnant both times, and I could polish off a whole thing of camenbert cheese in a flash lol ------------- |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 04 September 2010 at 10:56pm
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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. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 04 September 2010 at 10:57pm
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Its the same with ham, you can eat it from the vaccum packs you get in the supermarket but you have to eat it then and there and you can't eat any of the left overs.
This way I've managed to have a ham and cheese sandwich once during my pregnancy. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: newme
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 7:11am
| Thank you for that. I am going to get some feta today. I am feeling quite excited! |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 7:54am
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Yup, as long as it's freshly opened and still cold, it should be fine. Have to admit, I have been eating newly-opened vacuum packed ham on quite a few occasions this time around! (mostly hot on a toasted sandwich, but sometimes not!) Same thing with soft cheese.
I was super-anal about eating last pregnancy, so it's really quite nice to enjoy these things every so often  -------------  
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 10:21am
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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. ------------- |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 1:58pm
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I agree Sheza that any cold meat probably carries a risk (afterall, it was vacuum-packed cold meat that caused the hospital-based listeria outbreak a couple of years ago), but I think as long as you're eating it sensibly, and avoiding very high risk foods, then it's ok for an every so often thing!
(I wouldn't have said that first time around, but I'ma bit more relaxed this time around )-------------
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 2:00pm
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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. ------------- |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 2:23pm
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I've only had ham once and I made it into toasted sandwiches. Having to make it and eat it straight away meant I can only have it at home and I'm not home enough to justify buying it.
I have enjoyed having pizzas though, was able to make a meat lovers with chorizo, kransky sausages and bacon it was heaven. Did the same with chicken, cranberry and camembert. Pizza has been my fav fast food during pregnancy. I've even had Subway a few times making sure I order a hot one and get it toasted and gone without the salads. The bbq meatball and pork riblet ones are yummy. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 3:06pm
That pizza sounds so yum C&J!! 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 5:23pm
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I ate it on pizza (cooked) and also bought from supermarket but in the original packaging and didn't eat it after the one use if there was left overs. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 7:28pm
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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 
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 7:30pm
| Having said that, just because i'll eat a chilled ham and some smoked salmon please don't assume that its safe for all - i'm not a doctor and i'm not saying it as medical advice! |
Posted By: AuntieSarah
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 8:45pm
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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. |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 9:41pm
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My MW advised me not to have soft cheeses, unless they were cooked ie: on pizza was ok.
In the end it is only 9 months of avoiding these things. I havn't felt too deprived over being banned from the entire deli section of the supermarket, have had to get more creative is all. Not long to go and I can tuck into what ever I like. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 05 September 2010 at 9:53pm
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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 -------------
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 06 September 2010 at 3:35pm
| i just can't wait to have KFC. |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 06 September 2010 at 4:10pm
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I have had KFC over the last 8 month, naughty naughty. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 06 September 2010 at 4:18pm
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I had KFC
Also agree with Blondy, told myself I'd tuck in after baby and turns out I had to avoid a few things because gave DD bad eczema! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Renee & Lauren
Date Posted: 06 September 2010 at 4:41pm
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you are allowed to eat all cheeses that are made in NZ ------------- http://lilyslim.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 9:01am
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I think the moral of the thread is eat what you are comfortable eating, on the advice of someone you trust and ignore everyone who says you can't.
(got judged this morning for ordering an espresso. It wasnt for me, was picking it up for a coworker and the rude woman behind the counter asked me four times if i was sure i didnt want decaf.) |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 9:32am
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I've continued to have coffee during my pregnancy only 1 on a week day, don't need it on the weekend. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 10:11am
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I have deli ham in toasted sandwiches, I figure it gets pretty hot in there so is fine?
I've also had KFC, BK & McD's - didn't realise I shouldn't. Pretty much everything is deep fried or processed so surely ok? I like to refer to it as the histeria about Listeria (although do take it fairly sensibly). ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 10:32am
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I've had McD's and BK, but i'm just carefull about the chicken - especially after the recent raw chicken thing in Auckland.
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 10:33am
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I guess I don't want to be the 1 case that proves that listeria is real same with salmonella. Having read about one case of it in the OB birth stories that was enough to make me cautious about what I've eaten. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 11:08am
Hmmm, I think my ham cheese & tomato toastie I was having for lunch may turn into a cheese & tomato toastie..... I honestly thought if it was piping hot it was ok 
Didn't hear about the raw chicken in Auckland. Eeek, maybe I'll just eat everything at home from now on! I agree caliandjack, I don't want to be the 1 case either. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 12:03pm
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Clover, food safety wise anything heated to above 75 degrees (85 to be really safe) is fine. But its up to what you feel comfortable with, if you can forgoe the ham and it'll reassure you, go nuts.
Most health guidelines handed out by doctors and midwifes state that deli foods such as salami, ham etc are fine if heated. |
Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 12:09pm
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I ate the ham
I'm sure the leaflet my mw gave me said that all items on the "not safe" list were fine if heated to above 75 degrees. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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