Which cheese in pregnancy?
Nicole Wendler holds a PhD in biology in the field of oncology and immunology. As a medical editor, author and proofreader, she works for various publishers, for whom she presents complex and extensive medical issues in a simple, concise and logical manner.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.The consumption of cheese during pregnancy is highly recommended because it contains many important minerals, trace elements, protein and some vitamins. However, caution is advised, for example, with raw milk cheese and fresh cheese sold in the open: Pregnancy is a phase in which food with a potential for germ contamination should be avoided. Read here which types of cheese are safe for expectant mothers and which cheese should be avoided during pregnancy!
Cheese during pregnancy - a valuable food
Cheese is rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. It also contains important trace elements such as iron, copper and zinc as well as B vitamins. It also consists of 10 to 30 percent protein. Pregnant women need such nutrients in large quantities so that the child can develop optimally in the womb. Therefore - with certain restrictions - the consumption of cheese during pregnancy is definitely recommended.
In many finished products, so-called analog cheese can be found instead of real cheese. The artificial cheese consists of vegetable fats, milk protein, flavors and additives. It is not directly harmful to health, but neither is it particularly healthy.
Cheese during pregnancy: no germs, please!
Pasteurized milk was heated up to 100 ° C to preserve it, ultra-high temperature milk up to 150 ° C. Pathogens such as listeria or salmonella cannot survive such temperatures. Therefore, cheese made from such milk is allowed to be eaten during pregnancy.
Caution during pregnancy: raw milk cheese
Pregnancy and raw milk products are not a good combination: when making raw milk cheese, the milk is heated to a maximum of 40 ° C. Some germs such as listeria, salmonella, E. coli or tuberculosis bacteria survive this temperature and multiply. Consumption of such cheese during pregnancy can therefore lead to infections, which can be accompanied by dangerous complications.
An exception is hard cheese made from raw milk. Due to its long storage, its water content and pH value are so low and its salt content so high that germs such as listeria cannot live in it. Consumption is therefore safe for pregnant women. Well-known examples of such hard raw milk cheeses are Allgäu Emmentaler and Parmesan.
Pregnancy: More Tips For Eating Cheese
Listeria can settle on the cheese rind, even with cheese made from pasteurized milk. These bacteria can cross the placental barrier and infect the unborn child - with potentially life-threatening consequences! Therefore, before consuming cheese during pregnancy (regardless of the type), you should definitely cut off the rind.
Pregnant women should avoid pickled cheese or cream cheese if it comes from the open. Due to the open storage, germs can easily multiply.
The same applies to mozzarella during pregnancy, if it is offered openly. It is usually made from pasteurized milk. In its further processing, however, only temperatures of up to 65 ° C are used. Mozzarella is therefore a very susceptible food that bacteria (pseudomonads) like to colonize.
Conclusion: which cheese is allowed during pregnancy
In total, the following types of cheese can be consumed during pregnancy:
- Semi-hard and soft cheese made from pasteurized milk, but without rind: Gouda, butter cheese, Leerdammer, Tilsiter, Edam, Cheddar, Brie, Camembert
- Hard cheese (possibly also made from raw milk), without rind: Parmesan, Emmental, mountain cheese
- Cooked cheese, processed cheese
- Baked camembert, oven cheese, cheese fondue, raclette
- industrially packaged / manufactured cream cheese or pickled cheese: feta, sheep cheese, cottage cheese, mascarpone, ricotta and other cream cheese, mozzarella
Conclusion: which cheese is not advisable during pregnancy
As a precaution, expectant mothers should avoid the following types of cheese during pregnancy:
- Semi-hard and soft cheeses made from raw milk: Camembert, Brie, Roquefort
- Soft cheese with red smear: Limburger, Münster, Romadur
- Sour milk cheese: Harzer roll, hand cheese, Mainz cheese, Olomouc quargel, pointed cheese, basket cheese
- pre-made grated cheese
- Pickled cheese or cream cheese from open vessels: feta, sheep cheese, mozzarella
Pregnancy and cheese: shopping tips
Cheese made from raw milk must always be labeled. When buying, look out for the label "made from raw milk" or "not pasteurized". Occasionally, the label also reads "made from unpasteurized milk". If the cheese was made from pasteurized milk, a notice is not required by law. In contrast, food imitations such as cheese substitutes have recently had to be labeled as such.
You can also seek advice from a specialist seller when buying cheese during pregnancy.
Tags: prevention unfulfilled wish to have children first aid
