Feta cheese and other soft cheeses

[Palestrina]

I miss feta cheese. I have found some feta that is domestic and it says "pasteurized" on the label. But this feta isn't tasty and delicious like the imported feta I'm used to. Being greek this cheese pops up in loads of dishes, especially now during the holidays.

The problem with imported feta is that it is sold in chunks at the deli and I don't know what the packaging says or if it is pasteurized. Does anyone know if it is ok to eat this feta if it has been cooked in a dish like a casserole or something? I know it's not ok to eat smoked salmon by itself but it is ok to eat it if it has been cooked in a dish, is it the same for soft cheeses?

 

[vickyd]

I eat the "chunks" from the deli all the time here in greece. Its pasteurised as it comes from industrial producers. If you get sent some from the village, my suggestion would be to eat only cooked.

 

[Clo]

As far as I was aware it was ok to eat feta cheese as it is not a 'blue' cheese...but I could be wrong! x

 

[Palestrina]

This site is scary!

https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/listeria.html

 

[CandyApple19]

blah, ive carried on eating feta.

 

[Palestrina]

I just found this online. Dodonis is a very popular brand of feta cheese easily found in mediterranean markets. Since this site claims that this feta is pasteurized, and since I will be using it in a spanakopita which is a cooked dish, I think I'm going to go for it.

https://www.orexifoods.com/Feta-Cheese-Dodonis-Plastic-Container-with-Brine-400-gr-1030.htm

 

[Itsychik]

I eat unpasturized cheese, frequently. Personally, I think the hype about what you can/cannot eat when pregnant has gotten a little out of control (I live in the Netherlands where people scream if you even LOOK at soft cheeses--give me a break!). I had unpasturized swiss (which I cooked in a dish--I read as long as it's cooked than it's no problem) and I eat feta imported from Greece (and probably a bunch of other places) every week (goat chese as well!) I asked a local Greek restaurant and they told me that feta isn't a problem to eat when you're pregnant... but aside from that, I eat it anyway (stuffed in olives... yum!) and I haven't had any problems. My midwife also didn't list feta as a 'problem' cheese.

So IMO, you should be fine. But it's up to you!

 

[SPN1304]

is normal soft cheese ok to eat? I had dairylea the other day which I know is fine but OH bought sainsburys own soft cheese today is this ok?

Thanks

 

[Palestrina]

I don't know what "normal soft cheese" means, can you be more specific? There are plenty of soft cheeses that are ok to eat such as ricotta, mozzarella, philadelphia, and mascarpone. But goat cheese, brie, camembert, and blue cheese are strictly off limits.

 

[pinkmonki]

I still eat Feta. It's the 'blue' cheeses that are considered unsafe.

Soft cheese in the Dairylea/ Philadelphia family are fine to eat too. They're pasteurised. Again, it's only the mould ripened cheeses that are considered unsafe.. But hell, I still eat runny eggs, bloody steak etc so my personal choice is to eat whatever I like In moderation.

 

[SPN1304]

The tub jsut says sainsburys reduced fat soft cheese?? I'm guessing as its not a blue cheese it should be fine? I am not having pate this christmas I need my cheeses lol!!!

 

[pinkmonki]

The tub jsut says sainsburys reduced fat soft cheese?? I'm guessing as its not a blue cheese it should be fine? I am not having pate this christmas I need my cheeses lol!!!

It's just own-brand Philadelphia, it's fine.

 

[MissFox]

If you are cooking the feta it would be OK. I am not taking risks with it uncook though as my friend had a stillborn at 38weeks due to listeria. It's a heartbreaking thing to happen and I personally would find it insulting to her if I continued to eat it.

 

[Palestrina]

So I spoke to my doctor today and she said as long as the cheese is pasteurized it's fine to eat cold or cooked. However, she said that cooking and pasteurizing are 2 difference processes and cooking unpasteurized cheese may not make it safe to eat. So it's not ok to cook with blue cheese or brie or something like that.

 

[Itsychik]

I just wanted to point out that a lot of brie IS pasteurized. Same for goat cheese... you just need to read the labels.

As a rule, most soft cheeses (i.e. brie) that you buy in the supermarkets are already pasteurized. If you're unsure about any cheese, just read the labels to see if it's pasteurized!

Here's a link from the American Pregnancy Association, which also states that pasteurizing and cooking food kills the listeria bacteria:

https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/listeria.html

At the end, it all boils down to what you feel comfortable with. There are a lot of foods that can carry listeria (see the link above, like deli meats, uncooked veggies, or other ready-to-eat foods) so theoretically, just cutting out cheese doesn't mean you're not exposed.

Here's a quote from the website about things that ARE safe:

"Hard cheeses such as cheddar and semi-soft cheeses such as mozzarella are safe to consume. Pasteurized processed cheese slices and spreads such as cream cheese and cottage cheese can also be safely consumed. The most important thing to do is read the labels!"

I eat brie, goat cheese, and unpasteurized (but cooked) cheese, but that's my personal choice. If you're unsure, try to do some research or ask your doctor/midwife until you feel comfortable

 

[Palestrina]

Thank you Itsychik, if you read my other posts you would see that I did link to the americanpregnancy site as well. Also if you read the post right above yours you'll see that I did in fact speak to my doctor, who contradicts your advice.

All in all I agree that one has to feel comfortable with what they're eating. There are times that I am willing to take a chance and times I'm not willing to. Just last week at a buffet I couldn't resist a piece of salami so I ate it. Oh boy I miss sopressata.

 

[mumoffive]

Its blue cheese and mould ripened soft cheeses like camombert and brie. Tbh, although the risks maybe small..its just not worth taking the chance cause listeria is an incredibly serious infection that can cause not only miscarriage but still birth.

 

[mumoffive]

Yes, if its pasteurised thought, it should be fine. x

 

[mumoffive]

The bacterium is a gram positive bacillus that is very invasive once it gets into the body. It lives inside cells, rather than remaining outside like many of the bacteria that cause food poisoning. It can spread through the body and is attracted to the nervous system. Its high death rate of around a quarter of people who become severely infected is due to the meningitis that it causes. It is also able to cross the placenta of pregnant women, which is why it is so dangerous in pregnancy. The Listeria infection in the mother passes directly into the bloodstream of her unborn baby and the foetus becomes massively infected and often dies. A spontaneous miscarriage then takes place.

 

[sardando]

https://www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/pregnancy/whenyrpregnant/

Have a look at this UK website, Feta is fine! Infact, the only cheeses it says to avoid are camembert, brie, chevre (never heard of it) and blue cheese.