Can You Eat Gorgonzola When Pregnant?

Can you eat gorgonzola when pregnant?

In this article, we are going to answer the question: can you eat gorgonzola when pregnant, what is gorgonzola cheese, what happens if I eat it, can gorgonzola be eaten when heated, baked, or cooked, and what cheese should avoid when pregnant and how to safely eat gorgonzola when pregnant.

Can you eat gorgonzola when pregnant?

No, you can’t eat gorgonzola when pregnant because the risk of having Listeria Monocytogenes is too high. Listeriosis can be very dangerous when pregnant.

You are at risk of food poisoning, especially with listeriosis. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, when you are pregnant and get listeriosis you can experiences side effects 10 times more than the general population

What is gorgonzola cheese?

Gorgonzola cheese is a soft blue cheese. It comes from Italy. Young gorgonzola cheese is soft and creamy butter-like and slowly approaching a slightly acidic finish. More mature versions are stronger in flavor and pungent bite to finish.

It is made exclusively from cow’s milk. It is usually made from pasteurized milk but it is still not safe for pregnant women. You can add it to risottos, pasta, pizzas, and vegetables.

It has a high content of water, which makes it easy to grow bacteria, especially listeria.

What happens if I eat gorgonzola when pregnant?

The risk of food poisoning with gorgonzola is very high. In a study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, they found out that listeria was present in 2.1 – 4.8% samples of 1600 Gorgonzola cheese.

This highlights the fact that even when refrigerated it can grow listeria. This includes all types of gorgonzola cheese.

Pregnant women are too susceptible to this type of food poisoning. They are 20 times more susceptible to having worse side effects. The FDA says that soft cheese, unpasteurized, is 50 to 160 times more prone to be contaminated with bacteria, especially Listeria monocytogenes.

The main side effects you can experience with a foodborne illness:

Blood or brain infections

Seizures

Diarrhea

Vomiting

Miscarriage

Preterm labor

Headaches

Muscle pain

Fever

Can I eat heated, baked, or cooked gorgonzola?

Cooked, baked, or heated gorgonzola is safe to eat but it has to reach 165 degrees celsius. You need to cook up to 165 degrees celsius plus a 3-minute stand time for safety.

According to the USDA, “3-minute stand for safety refers to the time that the product remains at the final temperature after it has been removed from the oven, grill, or stove. During the 3 minutes after it has been removed, its temperature remains constant and continues to rise, to kill pathogens’’

If you don’t have a thermometer you need to see it steaming hot.

What cheese should I avoid when pregnant?

You should avoid cheese made with unpasteurized milk, soft cheese, bacteria-ripened, and blue-veined cheese that tend to grow listeria. Here is a list of cheese that is usually unsafe to pregnant women:

Brie

Camembert

Feta

Roquefort

Queso fresco

Queso Blanco

Panela

Curd

Gorgonzola

The risk of food poisoning with this type of cheese is too high because they have a very high water content. Pregnant women are too susceptible to this type of food poisoning. They are 20 times more susceptible to having worse side effects.

The FDA says that soft cheese, unpasteurized, is 50 to 160 times more prone to be contaminated with bacteria, especially Listeria monocytogenes.

How to safely eat gorgonzola when pregnant?

As said above, gorgonzola needs to be heated to very high temperatures and fully cooked so you can eat it when pregnant.

Gorgonzola sauce: If the sauce has been heated thoroughly, then it’s fine to eat it. You can find it over your steak, vegetables, or pasta. When in doubt, you better ask the restaurant.

Gorgonzola in salads. You better stay away from it, it will normally be fresh gorgonzola cheese.

Baked gorgonzola: It is safe! You can see it in salty or sweet bread or pies.

Pizza: It is normally safe to eat gorgonzola in pizza because it is cooked in the oven. If it is just sprinkled on top of the pizza and fresh, don’t eat it. When in doubt, ask the waiter!

Pasta, ravioli, or gnocchi: It is the same as all the above, better ask if it has been heated enough.

Here is a recipe for baked polenta with gorgonzola.

Other FAQs about Cheese that you may be interested in.

When do you put cheese on pizza?

When do you put cheese on a burger?

When do you put cheese on lasagna?

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question: can you eat gorgonzola when pregnant, what is gorgonzola cheese, what happens if I eat it, can gorgonzola be eaten when heated, baked, or cooked, and what cheese should avoid when pregnant and how to safely eat gorgonzola when pregnant.