Can you eat Havarti cheese when pregnant?
In this article we are going to answer the question: can you eat Havarti cheese when pregnant, what is Havarti, what are the risks of eating Havarti, and how to add it to your diet when pregnant.
Can you eat Havarti cheese when pregnant?
No, you can’t eat Havarti cheese when pregnant. It is part of a group of semi-soft cheese that because of its high water content is more prone to growing bacteria on it. You may be more at risk of contracting listeria if you eat Havarti cheese.
In some guidelines, Havarti is considered safe for pregnant women only when it is made from pasteurized milk. So, if you check the label, just make sure the ingredients say ‘pasteurized milk’ and you’ll be safe!
What is Havarti cheese?
Is a semi-soft cheese from the mid-1800s native to Denmark. Is smooth with no rind and a creamy to pale yellow color. It tastes buttery and slightly acidic. It can be compared with Monterrey Jack or Cheddar Cheese. Traditionally it is made from raw pasteurized milk which makes it a more safe cheese to eat.
Usually, its only ingredient is pasteurized milk, which makes it gluten-free in almost all its versions.
Is Havarti a hard cheese?
No, Havarti is a semi-soft cheese or semi-hard cheese, depending on the source. That’s why some organizations do not recommend eating Havarti cheese when pregnant.
According to Healthy Canadians Eating Guides, Havarti is a semi-soft cheese that should not be eaten even when made from pasteurized milk. On the other hand, the NHS considers Havarti as a safe cheese to eat when made with pasteurized milk.
What is the risk if I eat Havarti cheese from unpasteurized milk?
The risk of food poisoning with Havarti is not that usual but you still need to be careful.
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
What cheese can and can’t I eat when pregnant?
According to the NHS, you can eat all hard cheese made with pasteurized or unpasteurized milk because they have low water content which makes it harder for bacteria to grow.
- Cheddar
- Gouda
- Gruyere
- Parmesan
- Provolone
- Havarti
- Manchego
- Edam
- Emmental
The NHS also recommends that soft cheese as long as it is made from pasteurized milk is safe to eat when pregnant.
- Cottage cheese
- Cream cheese
- Goat cheese
- Ricotta
- Mozzarella
- Feta
- Prepared cheese spreads
You should not eat any soft cheese, mold-ripened or blue-veined. They are strictly out of limits when pregnant.
- Brie
- Camembert
- Goat cheese with the rind
- Chevre
- Danish Blue
- Gorgonzola
- Roquefort
- Queso Blanco or queso fresco
How to eat Havarti cheese completely safely when pregnant?
The only way you can assure you are safe eating cheese is to completely cook it, bacteria can’t survive above 165 degrees. To fully kill the pathogens mentioned above you need to cook your cheese up to 165 degrees for whole meats 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’’
How to add Havarti to my diet when pregnant?
If you are completely sure that it is made from pasteurized cheese, you can eat it on your cheeseboard. If not, I recommend you add it to your favorite plate and fully cook it. Here are some ideas:
- You can find more ideas here!
Other FAQs about Cheese that you may be interested in.
Does vacuum-sealed cheese need to be refrigerated?
Conclusion
In this article we answered the question: can you eat Havarti cheese when pregnant, what is Havarti, what are the risks of eating Havarti, and how to add it to your diet when pregnant.
Citation
https://www.hellomotherhood.com/157240-havarti-cheese-pregnancy.html
https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/alt/pdf/eating-nutrition/safety-salubrite/pregnant-enceintes-eng.pdf
