The Big Cheese scare- ... is it an imported concern????

[Rumpleteaser]

As I understand it, cheese is ok as long as it is pasteurised and has not then been mould ripened, as the mould ripening encourages bacteria growth. I'm not sure why soft serve dairy is not recommended even when pasteurised though (and this is certainly the official advice Listeria and food - the risk to people with weakened immune systems - Food Standards Australia New Zealand) but I would be interested in knowing more if anyone is an authority on the subject.

The soft serve issue is that the equipment is hard to clean, so they can't garentee that it won't harbour bacteris.

[Phteven]

Even though the milk used to make soft cheeses has been pasteurised bacteria is re-introduced during production. Any cheese with mould is a listeria risk.

[klubear]

I read something yesterday that didn't quite explain but added something to the theory... it's not just mould ripened cheese, it is cheese with a skin.. so PERHAPS even using pasteurised milk..there is in fact another process that may make it risky.

I guess, there is like probably a 1 in 100 chance of listeria being present in even unpasteurised cheese.... BUT- do any of us take a 1 in 100 risk!!! Not bloody likely !! LOL

[Ambersky]

Cheese with a skin would be mould ripened, things like brie are just a white mould. You wont find un-pasturised cheese in the supermarket only speciality cheese shops would have it so you wont ever buy it by accident IYKWIM. I actualy dont see the risk with pasturised cheese as any different to most cold food, in that you cant be 100% sure of the cool chain with supply - so the same goes for yoghurt/dips ect.
I make my own soft cheeses normaly and have stopped while preg, as i have eating deli meat ect, but i have been known to have salad with a sprinkle of feta. We all have to take our own informed choices, its the conflicting info thats a pain in the bum.

[Three Graces]

I think I've become more relaxed with my third pregnancy. I'm steering clear of soft cheeses with mould (brie), but feta, especially the marinated goat's feta (sooo good) has been eaten this time around. And soft boiled eggs. Still wary of salad bars/sandwich shops where i don't know if they've been washed properly.

[belle75]

I remember reading something recently that said something along the lines of - " ..even when pasteurised, the moisture content in soft cheeses make them prone to listeria contamination".

[HotI]

Listeriosis is an uncommon disease in humans. In Australia in 2003 the rate was three infections per million population for non-pregnancy Listeriosis cases and 4.6 infections per 100 000 births per year for maternal-foetal infections.

So if Australia has a population of 20 million, that gives approx 60 cases of listerosis per year in Australia.

There are approx 250,000 births per year in Australia. Therefore, 4.6 x 2.5 = 11.5 maternal-foetal listerosis infections/year

There are approx 1500 fatalities from road accidents each year in Australia.

So, statistically you are 100 times more likely to die in a car accident than by infected by listeria during pregnancy.

* i admit that the calculations are crude

[nothing2lose]

That's not quite true HotI. There are other variables which need to be taken into account when looking at the road toll statistics versus maternal/fetal deaths due to listeria. You need to look at how many pregnant women are killed each year within those road toll figures to make a more accurate comparison.

[HotI]

That's not quite true HotI. There are other variables which need to be taken into account when looking at the road toll statistics versus maternal/fetal deaths due to listeria. You need to look at how many pregnant women are killed each year within those road toll figures to make a more accurate comparison.

Only if pregnancy affects your chances of being killed in a car accident, which is possible cos you are less likely to be male, drinking alcohol ...

[Ambersky]

Is great to break it down like that Hotl, Thanks. Helps keep it in perspective, I'm not suggesting anyone eat food they are not comfortable with... but no one ever suggests we don't get in cars for 9m.

[Aussiegirl777]

I think you more need to be aware of bacteria forming due to bacteria from moisture. Be it Listeria or Salmonella etc. It's more about moisture occuring in a product (could be cheese, could be rice, could be cucumber or lettuce etc) after it has been prepared. The higher the moisture content the more likely it is to be contaminated once it is cut/cooked/prepared, if it is not stored correctly. That is why the emphasis is on eating fresh food and knowing where it has come from during your pregnancy.

[Phteven]

So if Australia has a population of 20 million, that gives approx 60 cases of listerosis per year in Australia.

There are approx 250,000 births per year in Australia. Therefore, 4.6 x 2.5 = 11.5 maternal-foetal listerosis infections/year

There are approx 1500 fatalities from road accidents each year in Australia.

So, statistically you are 100 times more likely to die in a car accident than by infected by listeria during pregnancy.

I doubt that knowing that only 10.5 other mothers lost their babies because of listeria is much comfort to the mothers who do lose their babies.

[HotI]

The data was on infections, not deaths due to listeria.

I largely chose not to eat the high risk listeria foods during pregnancy, but i do think the risk of listeriosis is overstated, with many women feeling guilt over their diet and have their diet questioned by family members or media, but continue other behaviours where the risk of damage to mum or baby may be higher.