Soft Cheese While pregnant

Soft cheeses contain a high amount of moisture but are yummy, making you crave them during pregnancy. The question arises: “is it safe to eat soft cheese while pregnant?”

All pregnant women can consume soft cheeses made with pasteurized milk, but unpasteurized ones must be avoided. To learn more about eating soft cheese while pregnant, read this article on Hipregnancy.

What is soft cheese?

Soft cheese has a buttery texture, and you can spread them on your bread easily, called soft cheeses. Soft cheeses have a creamy taste, and they contain a higher amount of moisture and flavor. Soft cheeses have a tangy taste, and they will melt in your mouth. Unlike hard cheeses, soft cheese has a different process and is fresher and younger than hard cheeses.

Soft cheeses are made in a few days up to 2 weeks. Those cheeses that contain higher than 50 percent moisture can be classified in the soft cheeses category. To make soft cheeses, the proteins of milk, caseins are mixed with acids like vinegar, citric acid, or lemon juice. The ingredients are different in types of soft cheeses, and the production process is different as well.

If ready, let’s continue to see whether consuming soft cheese while pregnant is safe.

Also, read the article: Can pregnant women eat blue cheese

Can you have soft cheese when pregnant?

A healthy breakfast is very important for pregnant women. Because not only should it provide energy for the mother and fetus during the day, but it should be free of any bacteria and risk factors

Pregnant women need 10 mg more protein than other women. Eating a delicious breakfast for pregnant women, rich in protein and amino acids, can help your fetus grow and become stronger. Pasteurized soft cheese while pregnant can be a great option to fulfill your needs.

Due to the immune system’s weakness during pregnancy, pregnant women should be careful about their food choices. Eating unpasteurized soft cheese during pregnancy is dangerous since it might contain Listeria bacteria and cause miscarriage or premature birth.

Also Read: cottage cheese while pregnant

The pros and cons of soft cheese while pregnant

Cheese is one of the most important sources of nutrients for pregnant women, this may lead to overeating. Nutritionists suggest eating cheese during pregnancy. You cannot trust every kind of soft cheese while pregnant. Cheeses made from milk powder or pasteurized milk will suit pregnant women.

Although eating cheeses during pregnancy is considered a safe option for women, in general, consuming unpasteurized soft cheeses can cause listeriosis in pregnant women due to the presence of Listeria bacteria.

Remember that Listeria bacteria are mostly found in soft and unpasteurized cheeses such as feta cheese, berry cheese, camembert cheese, and blue cheese. Although these types of bacteria may cause mild symptoms such as the flu in adults, entering this type of bacteria into a pregnant woman’s body will also cause damage to her fetus.  

The mother’s need for more calcium and protein is the main reason for their willingness to eat soft cheese; this indicates the healthy and proper functioning of the mother’s uterus and the good condition of the fetus.

Remember that you should never ignore the needs of the mother’s body. If the mother needs to consume soft cheese, this need should be met. Of course, always monitor the mother’s diet and consult a specialist.

Also read: Iron Rich Foods For Pregnancy

Which soft cheeses are safe during pregnancy? (pasteurized soft cheese while pregnant)

Remember that if a woman consumes soft cheese while pregnant, she should pay attention to the type of processing and preparation. Usually, most soft cheeses have a flexible texture and are sometimes very watery, so when you eat this type of cheese, the water in it comes out and becomes sticky.

There are various kinds of soft cheese during pregnancy, and you can choose the best to buy. All pregnant women can consume soft cheeses made with pasteurized milk. However, before buying soft cheese pregnant, these people should pay attention to the points written on their labels.

Safe and pasteurized soft cheese while pregnant is mentioned below:

• Cheese made from garlic or other herbs
• A type of curd cheese made from pasteurized milk
• Cream cheese
• Mozzarella cheese (To learn more, read the article Can You Eat Mozzarella While Pregnant?)
• Ricotta cheese (To learn more, read the article Can Pregnant Women Eat Ricotta Cheese?)
• Quark cheese

However, if the milk used to make the cheese is not fully cooked, the harmful bacteria in it will not be killed, and it will not be safe for pregnant women. 

Gouda cheese is firm; as it is mature and hard, you can eat Gouda cheese during pregnancy. Most hard cheeses are unlikely to have listeria because of their low water content.

Mozzarella is considered a semi-soft cheese and is a good protein source for a baby’s muscles, cells, and overall growth and development. It is safe to consume this cheese while pregnant.

Mozzarella is also a food source of vitamin B12, essential for the body. This vitamin is effective in cell growth and maintaining the balance of the nervous system, protein synthesis, red blood cell production, and metabolism of carbohydrates and fats.

Eating pasteurized mozzarella soft cheese while pregnant does not harm you as the listeria bacteria is killed during the pasteurization process. So pay attention to the product label to make sure.

You know the safe cheese to eat during pregnancy now. Let’s continue with discussing unsafe ones.

What soft cheese to avoid during pregnancy?

Some types of soft cheeses can be a source of infectious bacteria. Here is a list of soft cheeses to avoid during pregnancy, including;

• Goat cheese
• Berry cheese 
• French soft cheese
• Roquefort cheese
• Blue cheese

Also, soft cheeses, such as Queso Blanco cheese and Asadero, are not safe soft cheese while pregnant. Lastly, remember that Listeria-infected cheeses do not taste or smell any different from healthy cheeses. Hence, you can never tell if a cheese is contaminated.

• Ripe and soft cheese

Cheeses such as goat cheese should not be used during this period. Moldy cheeses made from goat and cow’s milk are also foods that should not be eaten. Recommend you read on article “goat cheese pregnancy“.

• Blue cheeses

Fatty cheeses and Danish cheeses are among the cheeses that are not recommended at all during this period.

Local cheeses are not recommended because they do not follow the pasteurization process and may contain Listeria bacteria that can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, and even fetal death.

Conclusion

Cheese is one of the most nutrient-dense foods for pregnant women, but Can you eat soft cheese while pregnant?

You can consume certain types of soft cheese that are pasteurized like, cream cheese, mozzarella, curd cheese, etc., but other types such as berry, goat, French, and Roquefort cheese, should be avoided as they may cause listeriosis. Add pregnancy-safe soft cheeses to your meal plan instead.

If there are any unanswered questions or missed points about consuming soft cheese during pregnancy, share them with us via comment.

FAQ

1. Why can’t pregnant women eat soft cheese?

Consuming unpasteurized soft cheese pregnancy should be avoided as it can lead to listeriosis infection.