The most famous Greek cheese is Feta cheese. Most of the traditional feta cheese is made from unpasteurized milk. So most moms ask that is feta cheese safe during pregnancy?
The Feta cheese is soft and white in color. The tenderness of this cheese can be tempting to any person. Most people like to eat this cheese in different ways.
There is a lot of weird cravings during pregnancy, and feta cheese is one of them. Feta cheese is a soft white cheese. Its tenderness enhances the taste of any bland food. As soft cheese, while pregnant consider not as safe.
Thus a question arises Is feta cheese safe during pregnancy? or,
Can pregnant women eat feta cheese? FDA approved Pasteurised milk cheese safe during pregnancy. As Feta cheese makes from pasteurized milk, so feta cheese is more likely safe during pregnancy. Remember that before eating any feta, know cheese is made from pasteurized or not. Then feta cheese pregnancy considers safe.
Did you know that most doctors recommend avoiding feta cheese during pregnancy? But why? This cheese carries a lot of required nutrients.
Though cheese contains many nutrients and feta cheese has lots of nutrients. And It is also a concern that during your pregnancy, you may issue with the digestive system. Cheese takes time to digest.
Also, nowadays, most dairy factories have made cheese from pasteurized milk for human health.
In a word, whatever is made from unsaturated milk is not safe in pregnancy. Our heal health expert comes to explain all of your queries and so that you can eat the safest one.
Hold on, there is more you know before taking any cheese.
So coming to the main point,
See At A Glance
Is feta cheese safe during pregnancy?
Feta cheese while pregnant:
It is a big question itself that, is feta cheese safe during pregnancy? Although some say it is safe again, some say it is quite unsafe.
The basic theory of it, whatever the cheese is, is made from milk, and if the cheese makes from unpasteurized milk, it is more likely unsafe.Â
Because unpasteurized cheese contains listeria causes listeriosis, which grows up even in the refrigerator temperature. Listeria is far dangerous in pregnant women than in an average person. The result is miscarriage. Also, it leads to a stillbirth or preterm delivery.
The newborn baby also can be infected by Listeria will face many problems in the future, such as :
- Paralysis,
- Brain Dysfunction
- Heart problemÂ
- Seizures
Traditional feta cheese made from unpasteurized milk but other dairy industry makes it from pasteurized milk.
But if you want to eat feta cheese during pregnancy, check the level; if it says “cheese made up of pasteurized milk”, it is considered safe, but cooked well before it.
Now you know if feta cheese is safe during pregnancy or not.
Therefore here, we discuss more cheese that you can eat during pregnancy.
Can pregnant women eat feta cheese?
feta cheese pregnancy
When feta cheese says it is made from pasteurized milk, then pregnant women can eat feta.
But, while pregnant, if Feta Cheese is made from unpasteurized then it is pretty unsafe. Because it is a soft cheese, and listeria growth is the highest among soft cheese.
Many animals do not have a sign after a listeria attack. They do not get sick in any way. So Listeria remains present in the milk of that particular animal. Later it is ready to enter the body of the person who is fit to eat.
Not all people have shown the same signs of Listeria infection. It has also been found that eating those milk cheeses did not cause listeria infection.
But 70 percent of pregnant women suffer from Listeria infection and have suffered significant losses.
Many doctors suggest avoiding feta cheese while pregnant.
So it’s better to avoid feta cheese, while pregnant especially in the 3rd trimester; instead of feta cheese, look for alternative options.
Craving Feta Cheese During Pregnancy Boy or Girl
Craving cheese during pregnancy is quite common and healthy as well. But Craving feta cheese while pregnant is that any sign of a boy or a little princess?
Back to my pregnancy period, I craved lots of things like sour fruits, dairy products, spicy foods, and on. According to the old wives’ tale, “craving sour fruits and milk, cheese may indicate there is a baby girl on the way.”
I’m also expecting a girl at that time, yet finally, I know about the baby boy in my womb. So craving any foods I don’t think to relate to the baby’s gender. You know.
However, I can loudly speak- doing such a fun thing – old wives’ tale and all, diminish the pain and getting more excited the period. Now, if you have cheese cravings, let me know, what do you expect? What is the final result is? I urge to know about.
Read more- Are you Craving cucumber then know its means boy or girl
Best pasteurized cheese list for pregnancy
Cheeses that are safely allowed during pregnancy. These cheese safe for pregnancy:
- Hard Pasteurized cheese or firm pasteurized cheese like brick, parmesan, cheddar, etc.
- The Most semi-soft pasteurized cheese such as mozzarella, Havarti,Â
- Most pasteurized semi-soft cheese like mozzarella, Havarti, and Monterey jackÂ
- Processed cheese
- Cottage cheeseÂ
- Cream cheese
All hard cheese is safe in pregnancy, whether it is formed of unpasteurized milk or not because hard cheese holds minimum water that Listeria can not grow.
Hard cheese like :
- Cheddar
- edam
- Emmental
- gouda
- English goat’s
- Havarti
- Jarlsberg
- derby
- parmesan
- hard pecorino
- red Leicester
- Pecorino
- Mimolette
- Romano
- Stilton
- Swiss
These are soft cheese consume if it says” made from pasteurized milk.”
- cottage cheese
- goat’s cheese
- mozzarella
- paneer
- quark
- ricotta
- Feta
- Fontal
- Ricotta
Above all, cheese is safe for pregnancy, but you can eat only the cheese that is well cooked and produced of pasteurized milk.
These are all cheese during pregnancy lists now. The list will be avoided, no matter what, when you are pregnant.
What cheese can’t you eat when pregnant/ Unsafe cheese during pregnancy list
When you become a 1st-time mom, you should probably take care of your diet.Â
These listed cheese to avoid during pregnancy, even not safe if cooked well.
- Blue cheese
- Cambozola
- Danish Blue
- Brie
- Chaumes
- Taleggio
- Hispanic
- Limburger
- Mexican
- Queso fresco
Now you can understand what cheese to eat and what to avoid. Don’t have soft and mold-ripened sheep cheeses except they’re well cooked till steaming hot thoroughly.
FAQs on Feta cheese pregnancy
Q1. Is feta cheese pasteurized?
Though traditional Feta is made from unpasteurized milk. However, for health reasons, feta cheese is made with pasteurized milk. However, before eating, check the packet and make sure that the cheese is made from pasteurized milk.
Q2. Pasteurized feta cheese brands:
Greece’s Old-fashioned cheese is made from unpasteurized milk today. But now many people make cheese from pasteurized milk. FDA confirmed that pregnant women only have pasteurized cheese.
Here are some pasteurized feta cheese brands:Â
- Igourmet
- Dodoni
- vintage
- Athenos
- treasure cave
- president
- real greek artisan
- Tahsildaroglu Classic Feta Cheese
Q3. Can I ate goat cheese while pregnant :
Yes, you can eat, but before kill makes sure to kill the harmful bacteria.
Also, take care of the percentage of goat’s milk. It should be 30% of all mixture. Pasteurized goat cheese-less possible contaminated by Listeria and save to eat during pregnancy.
Another one is hard goat cheese; they are also less prone to deadly Listeria because hard cheese does not carry sufficient moisture to grow bacteria.
But there is some condition you can eat goat cheese while pregnant. Otherwise, you may risk food poisoning.
Soft goat cheese is risky for pregnant women, particularly in 1st trimester. They may contain Listeria; harmful bacteria that cause Miscarriage.
Again surface-ripened ones are harmful cheese during pregnancy.
Now most important how to distinguish hard and soft ones?
Differ them by their surface.
If you press the cheese with one finger, if it is slightly chipped, it is a soft cheese because hard cheese does not penetrate when pressed. It gives a strong feeling.
Benefits of eating goat cheese while pregnant:
- Goat cheese contains a high amount of protein, calcium, and fat.
- Easy to digest and suitable for those allergic to the diary.
- Contain good fat and main body weight.
- Good source of protein like essential protein histidine, which is beneficial for muscles.
- Â The superb root of vitamin B 12 and Vitamin A and Phosphorus.
- Goat cheese is an excellent source of probiotics. Which are enhances our gut health.
- Calcium along with phosphorous present in goat cheese care for your bone.
- Goat cheese has a decent amount of Vitamin A, K, folate, Pantathonic acid and iron, and magnesium.
- You can make an omelet with goat cheese, mushrooms, and fresh herbs.
Limitations of Goat cheese while pregnant:
- Goat cheese contains a high amount of sodium.
- Contain Lactose who are lactose in tolerate may show a problem with it.
Q4. What cheese can you eat when pregnant?
Never choose soft cheese with mold, lava brie, camembert, and goat cheese (a type of goat cheese)).
Stay away from soft cheeses with blue veins, like blue and gorgonzola. They used unpasteurized milk contain Listeria, very dangerous for an unborn baby.
You can have hard cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, and stilton, even if they use unpasteurized milk. Hard cheese that does not contain sufficient water can grow bacteria.Â
Other cheeses are made from pasteurized milk. These include homemade cheese, mozzarella, cream cheese, paneer, halloumi, goat cheese, and melted cheese spreads.
- English goat’s cheese
- Havarti
- gouda
- edam
- derby
- Emmental
- Cheshire
- Jarlsberg
- parmesan
- provolone
Q5. Can pregnant women eat cheese?
Yes, pregnant women can eat hard cheese but some conditions. As already know which type of cheese you should eat.
Cheese include in your diet is very beneficial for your pregnancy.
Cheese is made up of calcium, protein, and good fat. But there are various types of cheese present. All cheeses do not allow early pregnancy.
Avoid soft, semi-soft cheeses during pregnancy—another avoiding cheese like unpasteurized cheese and mold-ripened soft cheese.
Otherwise, you can eat hard cheese( cheddar, parmesan) Processed soft cheese ( only pasteurized milk-like cottage, mozzarella). These are considered safe while pregnant.Â
Q6. Can pregnant women eat Havarti cheese?
In one short answer- Yes. Pregnant women can eat Havarti cheese. This is not the cheese you worry about though Havarti has a very soft texture.
Havarti cheese makes from high pasteurized milk. Havarti Cheese has a sweet, buttery aroma flavor that tends to be slightly acidic. The cheese seems to melt fast when kept at room temperature.
It comes with several flavors like- caraway, dill, garlic, basil, coconut, sour cream, sweet cabbage.
So, you can have Havarti cheese while pregnant.
Q7. Amul cheese during pregnancy:
Yes, dear, Amul cheese slices are suitable during pregnancy. They are rich in protein. calcium and an excellent source of energy.Â
Eat in moderation 2-3 times a week. As Amul cheese is processed cheese so make sure to check the expiration date of the product
Amul cheese slices are safe cheese while pregnant because Amul cheese manufactures their cheese from pasteurized milk.
Q8. Britannia cheese during pregnancyÂ
Yes, mam, you take in moderation. It’s a great root of folate.
Folate is an essential component throughout pregnancy. It elevates the spinal cord and brain of the unborn child. It also a significant role in the nervous system of the baby.Â
You can eat a Britannia cheese sandwich for your breakfast. Not only Britannia, but you can also have an Amul cheese sandwich as an alternative meal.
Q9. Is romano cheese safe during pregnancy?
Romano Cheese is a hard salty cheese. As per the research study, hard cheese is mostly safe cheese during pregnancy. Because any hard cheese does not contain moisture, and bacteria can’t grow within hard cheese.
Hard cheese like Romano cheese, Pecorino cheese is safe and may be beneficial while pregnant.
Now you get your answer of can pregnant women wat romano cheese.
Q10. fontal cheese pregnant safe or not?
Fontal cheese is a variety of Fontina cheese from Italy.
The origin of Fontina is Aosta Vally in the Apls. Fontina is made from Cow’s milk, now popular worldwide. It is a semi-soft cheese made from unpasteurized milk. But fontal cheese is now made from pasteurized milk. I think if you are craving cheese or want to eat cheese, there are many more cheeses out there that you can eat.
Q11. Benefits of cheese during pregnancy?
- Cheese is the best dietary source of calcium
- An excellent source of protein
- Cheese is a great source of vitamin B12.
- Cheese can help to maintain blood pressure
- Cheese can be a great option for pregnant women to acquire the necessary vitamins and minerals for healthy fetal development with the right choices and preparations.
Our view on Is feta cheese safe during pregnancy?
From all the above information, it is known that it is better to eat feta cheese, but only if it is pasteurized.
Unpasteurized cheese should never be eaten, no matter how well cooked it is. It can secretly carry Listeria, which can never be seen with the naked eye.
If you want to eat feta cheese, you can eat alternative cheese like that.
They are processed, and soft cheeses are produced from pasteurized ingredients—hard cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, etc.
Few words from Healhealth expert:
You should never eat food that may harm your baby. It causes severe side effects like stillbirth, Miscarriage, a congenital disorder.
Here some list of foods you should avoid or eat in a very moderate amount:
- Avoid Raw meat or undercooked meat.
- Always avoid too much caffeine intake.
- If you want to energize yourself and take Gatorade, then our expert says you don’t need to, but you can take a moderate amount.
- While it comes to your expectation, just stay away from alcohol.
What you eat if you are craving:
- Most of the mothers crave orange juice or peanut butter for their entire pregnancy. Yes, you can take it gives you a good result.
- Again, some mom craves spicy food. It is safe during your pregnancy. But make sure in the moderate amount; otherwise, it may cause heartburn, stomach cramps, indigestion, or diarrhea.
- Drink plenty of water and eat healthy protein contain food.
- Always hydrate your body.
- If you crave coffee or ice cream, then you should take decaf coffee and ice cream.
Thank you.
