Re: Can I eat soft cheeses? I read somewhere that they're bad for you during pregnancy -- is this true?
Well, kind of. It’s not the cheese itself that can be harmful; it’s the process that’s used to make it. Before you chow down on the cheese, check the ingredient label and make sure it’s made from pasteurized milk. Unpasteurized cheeses can contain disease-spreading organisms that’ll put you and baby at a higher risk for getting sick. They also can carry listeria monocytogenes, deadly bacterium that are more likely to affect pregnant women. Pasteurization is what kills this nasty bacteria (along with other bad organisms). Varieties like Brie, feta and goat cheese are most likely to be unpasteurized, but some stores do carry pasteurized versions. Just make sure to read the label before you buy!
Paula Kashtan | June 02 , 2009 10:54 AM